Is The Last of Us Season 2 coming in 2023?

The first season of HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us wrapped up on March 12. The somewhat abrupt ending, while true to the game, left those unfamiliar with the PlayStation title thirsty for more.

We already know there will be a second season, and possibly third, of The Last of Us coming to HBO. How long will we have to wait though?

Is The Last of Us Season 2 coming in 2023?

HBO hasn’t announced when The Last of Us Season 2 will premiere. Scripts need to be written, characters need to be cast, and all the pre-production needs to be taken care of first.

Speaking to Collider, actor Pedro Pascal, who plays Joel in the series, hinted that filming could actually start in 2023. But even if that were the case, it’s highly unlikely that the show will release this year.

It took about 200 days to shoot the entirety of season one, which was then followed by a “feature-film-like production schedule,” according to showrunner Craig Mazin. That includes months editing the series and adding in the special effects. In the end, the entire production process, from shooting to editing, took about 18 months.

Assuming The Last of Us Season 2 starts filming this year, which seems like a tight turnaround, then the earliest we’re looking at its premiere is late 2024. An early 2025 premiere for Season 2 seems more probable though.

Again, this is all speculation. It’s still early in the process and we don’t know when casting will be completed or filming will begin.

The Last of Us was a massive success for HBO. Based on the popular PlayStation franchise, the first season follows Joel and Ellie on a journey through post-apocalyptic America as they seek out the Fireflies in hopes of generating a cure to the deadly outbreak. If Season 2 follows the video games, then it should pick up a few years after the events from Season 1 and follow Ellie on a quest for revenge.