WARNING! The following contains MAJOR spoilers for The Last of Us Season 2!
Prepare yourselves, fans of The Last of Us, because the first trailer for Season 2 of HBO’s adaptation just confirmed our worst fears. The new teaser (which is the length of a full trailer) gives fans their best look yet at the key players in the second season, and confirms that Season 2 will feature a five-year time jump, just like the games. It also showcases Jeffrey Wright’s terrifying Isaac, whom the actor voiced in the second video game and who appears in live action in the upcoming season. Sadly, it’s not the only standout moment that will be adapted from the controversial video game sequel, as the trailer has confirmed the scene that single-handedly divided and tortured the entire fan base.
Thankfully for our hearts – and the censors – the teaser doesn’t explicitly show the moment. However, in a blink-and-you’ll miss it shot, Ellie (Bella Ramsay) is shown crying unbearably. Causal audiences might not give the shot a second thought, but fans of Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us games know that the biggest death is coming much sooner than we want it to.
Without a doubt, the most shocking and horrifying moment in The Last of Us – more so than the cannibal settlements, Joel murdering everyone in a hospital, or Ellie killing a bunny (it’s easy to forget just how bleak the franchise actually is) – is the death of Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal). Fans already knew it was coming when HBO greenlit two more seasons of The Last of Us. However, after the confirmation that Season 2 would feature fewer episodes, the fan base sighed in relief, believing that we might be spared seeing that moment for another few years. However, the shot of Ellie, which feels ripped out of the video game, all but confirms that Joel will meet his demise in Season 2. This scene will likely come in the final episode of Season 2, setting up Ellie’s quest for revenge in Season 3.
Fans React to The Last of Us Season 2 Trailer
X was ablaze with reactions from fans after the first trailer was released. While unknowing fans of the show praised the trailer, desperate to know when in 2025 the new season will be released, fans of the games are secretly hoping that the new season will be delayed to spare us all the pain of seeing Joel’s death play out a second time. Even though The Last of Us Part II divided the fan base when it killed off Joel, many are now supporting one another as we all look ahead to what could be 2025’s most harrowing TV show. Check out a selection of Tweets below:
It shouldn’t surprise fans to know that Abby will likely play a large role in Season 2 of the hit show. The new trailer features our best look yet at the divisive character, played by Kaitlyn Dever in the series. Isabela Merced, who plays Dina in Season 2, previously revealed that Kaitlyn Dever required extra security as the producers were scared that overly passionate fans would reprimand and attack the actress for her character’s actions.
The Last of Us
Season 2 releases on HBO and Max in 2025.