"The Last of Us Renewed for Season 3 Ahead of Season 2 Premiere"

Major news, even if we all saw it coming: HBO's The Last of Us has officially been renewed for Season 3, less than a week before the premiere of Season 2 on Max.

"It can’t be for nothing," Max revealed via its social media channels on April 9. "Season 3 is coming." A deep red flare is featured burning bright in the bottom corner of a video accompanying the ominous caption.

It can’t be for nothing. Season 3 is coming. #TheLastOfUs pic.twitter.com/q5HxyvK9O6

— Max (@StreamOnMax) April 9, 2025

The Last of Us premiered in January 2023 to major acclaim, being hailed by many as the best video game adaptation to date. Season 1 garnered eight Emmy awards out of 24 nominations, showcasing its widespread critical success. The eagerly awaited Season 2 will feature the return of Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal as Ellie and Joel, respectively, alongside newcomer Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, a soldier driven by vengeance after losing someone close to her. The cast for Season 2 is further enriched by the addition of Young Mazino from Beef, Isabelle Merced from Alien: Romulus, Danny Ramirez from Captain America: Brave New World, and the esteemed Catherine O’Hara and Jeffrey Wright.

Recently, series creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann shared their thoughts with IGN on the ongoing "Was Joel right?" debate, a central theme in the franchise since the game's release in 2013.

"I believe Joel was right," stated Neil Druckmann, head of Naughty Dog. "If I were in Joel's position, I hope I would be able to do what he did to save my daughter." In contrast, Craig Mazin, the showrunner behind Chernobyl, offered a different perspective. "That's so interesting, because I think that if I were in Joel's position, I probably would have done what he did," he said. "But I'd like to think that I wouldn't. That's the interesting push and pull of the morality of it. And that's why the ending of the first game is so provocative and so wonderful. It just doesn't let you off the hook as a player."

The Last of Us Season 2 is set to premiere on Max on April 13, 2025. While a release date for Season 3 remains undisclosed, fans can look forward to IGN's spoiler-free review of The Last of Us Season 2 for more insights.