'The Last of Us' Fans Missed Bella Ramsey Dropping Big Details About Future Season 2 Episodes

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Joel and Ellie live on as The Last of Us survives to see another season.

The season 1 finale of the original HBO show reached a record high in viewership — 8.2 million, to be exact — so we already feel the anticipation for season 2. It left fans on quite the cliffhanger, too, as Joel (Pedro Pascal) fought to take Ellie (Bella Ramsey) away from the Firefly hospital, and the two make their return back to Canmore. Only, this time, Joel is hiding a big secret from her.

With The Last of Us top of mind again after the show earned a whooping 24 nominations at the 2023 Emmy Awards, it makes sense why fans want to hear the latest on the show's new episodes. So, here's everything we know so far about The Last of Us season 2.

Will there be season 2 of The Last of Us?

Just two episodes into the first season of the show, Warner Brothers renewed The Last of Us for a second season. The video game adaptation exceeded expectations upon its debut, surpassing millions upon millions of viewers.

“I’m humbled, honored and frankly overwhelmed that so many people have tuned in and connected with our retelling of Joel and Ellie’s journey," said executive producer Neil Druckmann in a statement. "The collaboration with Craig Mazin, our incredible cast and crew and HBO exceeded my already high expectations."

He added: “Now we have the absolute pleasure of being able to do it again with season two! On behalf of everyone at Naughty Dog & PlayStation, thank you!”

Is there a release date set for season 2 of The Last of Us?

No, there is no official premiere date for season 2, but earlier this year Pedro Pascal teased to Collider that "there is a chance" that filming for the new season could start in 2023, and Bella Ramsey noted that filming could pick up "as soon as the end of this year." However, this was all said before the WGA writers' strike began in May, followed by the SAG-AFTRA strike in July. Before the strikes, HBO shared that it was aiming for a 2025 premiere date — so it's possible the production delays may mean that new episodes won't arrive until 2026.

Still, like fans, showrunner Craig Mazin has been itching to put pen to paper and come up with the next chapter. "I can't wait to get back to work," Craig told Entertainment Weekly. "But unfortunately I have to wait."

In the meantime, hit “save” at the top of this story and circle back later to this page once The Last of Us drops its official season 2 trailer and premiere date.

Do we know if The Last of Us will end after season 2?

While the original video game has just two parts, that doesn't necessarily mean only two seasons of the HBO series. The co-creators spoke with GQ UK and when asked if season 2 could cover the entirety of The Last of Us Part II, Craig responded with an emphatic, "No. No way." Neil added, “It’s more than one season.”

Craig and Neil kept tight-lipped about exactly how many seasons that means ahead. The former told the publication: “You have noted correctly that we will not say how many. But more than one is factually correct.”

Do we know who will be in The Last of Us season 2 cast?

So far, we can expect The Last of Us season 2 cast members to include:

• Pedro Pascal as Joel

• Bella Ramsey as Ellie

• Gabriel Luna as Tommy

• Rutina Wesley as Maria

As for any newcomers, casting for The Last of Us season 2 was paused amid the writers' strike, per Variety. But the biggest dilemma comes from the time jump from Part I to Part II, which puts Bella's Ellie at an older age. Calling Bella's casting "lightning in a bottle," showrunners say her return is not even a question despite some fans' uncertainty due to the age factor. Plus, Craig pointed out that Bella is now the age of Ellie in The Last of Us Part II.

"The only way we would ever, ever consider recasting Bella is if she said, 'I don't want to work with you guys anymore,'" said Neil, according to IGN. "Even then, I'm not sure we would grant her that. We might still force her to come back to season 2."

Bella pretty much confirmed it themselves on Twitter. Amid the renewal news, they basked in the excitement and wrote: "I’m taking a ride with my best frienddddd (again):) #TheLastOfUsHBO."

Bellie, for the win!

Are there any The Last of Us season 2 spoilers yet?

Based on what we know about the video game, The Last of Us Part II, viewers will want to prepare themselves. If you thought season 1 was gloomy, The Last of Us Part II takes things to another level. Part II deals with the aftermath of Joel's actions at the end of Part I. While the first game focused on love and hope, the sequel centers more around hatred and revenge.

Bella touched on this concept while speaking to Variety about season 2. "It’s darker. It’s really a story about revenge, and a continuation from the first season about the dangers of unconditional love," she told the outlet.

The events of The Last of Us Part II take place a few years after the first game, and it's likely that the second season of the HBO show will have a time jump as well. However, the game does include flashbacks from the intervening years, so it's up to the showrunners to decide how they will adapt the story and in what order.

Even though HBO has not officially announced anything beyond the fact that there will be a season 2 for The Last of Us series, Craig and Neil have hinted that season 2 will feature more action and more infected. "It’s quite possible that there will be a lot more infected later," Craig told Variety. "And perhaps different kinds.”

How do I watch or stream The Last of Us?

If you want to get in on the action, The Last of Us season 1 is available to stream exclusively on Max. Subscriptions start at $9.99 per month. You can stream the series on your phone, tablet, computer and TV by signing into the Max app.

You Might Also Like

• 67 Best Gifts for Women That'll Make Her Smile

• The Best Pillows for Every Type of Sleeper