News
HBO Doubles Down: The Last of Us Secures Early Season 3 Renewal
<p class="" data-start="255" data-end="393">A week ahead of season two’s debut, HBO is already locking in more of <em data-start="325" data-end="341">The Last of Us</em>. That’s right—season three is officially happening.</p>
<p class="" data-start="395" data-end="705">The news hit earlier than expected, surprising exactly no one, but still sparking excitement across the internet. The network clearly sees gold in the dust-covered ruins of Joel and Ellie’s story. Even before season two has a chance to air, the streaming giant’s confidence in the franchise is as loud as ever.</p>
<h2 class="" data-start="707" data-end="760">HBO Pulls the Trigger Before Season Two Even Drops</h2>
<p class="" data-start="762" data-end="934">So here’s what’s wild. The second season hasn’t even premiered. No one’s seen a full episode yet. All we’ve got so far is a trailer—and a pretty damn promising one at that.</p>
<p class="" data-start="936" data-end="1132">Still, HBO gave the green light for a third round, and that’s not something they do lightly. Just look at the track record. Even the first season wasn’t renewed until it was several episodes deep.This time? They&#8217;re not waiting.</p>
<p class="" data-start="1167" data-end="1391">The renewal announcement comes days before the season two premiere on April 13 in the U.S., and April 14 in the U.K. That kind of move isn’t just bold. It’s a clear sign that HBO knows they’ve got another hit on their hands.</p>
<p data-start="1167" data-end="1391"><a href="https://www.theibulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/The-Last-of-Us-HBO-series-promotional-poster.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-57185" src="https://www.theibulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/The-Last-of-Us-HBO-series-promotional-poster.jpg" alt="The Last of Us HBO series promotional poster" width="943" height="719" /></a></p>
<h2 class="" data-start="1393" data-end="1443">Ratings, Reviews, and a Fanbase That Won’t Quit</h2>
<p class="" data-start="1445" data-end="1536">There’s no doubt the network is banking on momentum—and honestly, the numbers back them up.Critics have already chimed in. Rotten Tomatoes has the show sitting at a “Certified Fresh” 92%. That kind of early acclaim gives execs the confidence they need to call their shot. And judging by the buzz, fans are more than ready to see what’s next for Joel and Ellie.</p>
<p class="" data-start="1809" data-end="1907">But let’s not act like this is all about the critics. It’s the fans that keep the engine running. <em data-start="1909" data-end="1925">The Last of Us</em> season one didn’t just survive—it thrived. Millions tuned in. The finale alone pulled in 8.2 million viewers across platforms, according to HBO. Not bad for a post-apocalyptic series that’s already based on a beloved game.</p>
<h2 class="" data-start="2150" data-end="2197">That Record-Smashing Trailer Was a Huge Clue</h2>
<p class="" data-start="2199" data-end="2285">Still not convinced HBO knew what it was doing? Take a look at the season two trailer. It didn’t just trend—it exploded. Within 24 hours of its release, the trailer clocked in millions of views across YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Not to mention, it broke internal engagement records for HBO trailers.</p>
<p class="" data-start="2514" data-end="2540">Here’s what that tells us:</p>
<ul data-start="2542" data-end="2722">
<li class="" data-start="2542" data-end="2581">
<p class="" data-start="2544" data-end="2581">The fanbase is still fully locked in.</p>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="2582" data-end="2669">
<p class="" data-start="2584" data-end="2669">Curiosity about how the game’s darker second chapter plays out on screen is sky-high.</p>
</li>
<li class="" data-start="2670" data-end="2722">
<p class="" data-start="2672" data-end="2722">HBO’s promo machine knows exactly what it’s doing.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p class="" data-start="2724" data-end="2821">And if you&#8217;ve played the <em data-start="2749" data-end="2758">Part II</em> game, you know the narrative swerves are coming hard and fast.</p>
<h2 class="" data-start="2823" data-end="2860">Fewer Episodes, But More Firepower</h2>
<p class="" data-start="2862" data-end="2930">Now here’s the catch—season two’s only going to have seven episodes. That’s two fewer than season one. But don’t panic just yet. According to series co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, the shorter season isn’t a downgrade. Quite the opposite. Each episode is expected to be longer and far more intense.</p>
<p class="" data-start="3175" data-end="3392">In fact, Mazin said during a recent press junket that several episodes run over 70 minutes. And they’re not just filling that with padding. Expect more action, heavier themes, and some emotionally brutal storytelling.</p>
<p class="" data-start="3394" data-end="3440">One-sentence paragraph? Sure. It’s gonna hurt. But fans of the game already know that’s the point.</p>
<h2 class="" data-start="3495" data-end="3531">Why HBO&#8217;s Bet Makes So Much Sense</h2>
<p class="" data-start="3533" data-end="3608">Let’s break it down in a simple table to show how HBO’s thinking stacks up:</p>
<div class="pointer-events-none relative left-[50%] flex w-[100cqw] translate-x-[-50%] justify-center *:pointer-events-auto">
<div class="tableContainer horzScrollShadows">
<table class="min-w-full" data-start="3610" data-end="4492">
<thead data-start="3610" data-end="3736">
<tr data-start="3610" data-end="3736">
<th data-start="3610" data-end="3642">Factor</th>
<th data-start="3642" data-end="3672">Season One</th>
<th data-start="3672" data-end="3703">Season Two (Pre-Air)</th>
<th data-start="3703" data-end="3736">Season Three (Forecast)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody data-start="3863" data-end="4492">
<tr data-start="3863" data-end="3988">
<td class="" data-start="3863" data-end="3894">Episode Count</td>
<td class="" data-start="3894" data-end="3924">9</td>
<td class="" data-start="3924" data-end="3955">7</td>
<td class="" data-start="3955" data-end="3988">TBD</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="3989" data-end="4114">
<td class="" data-start="3989" data-end="4020">Rotten Tomatoes Score</td>
<td class="" data-start="4020" data-end="4050">96% (season finale)</td>
<td class="" data-start="4050" data-end="4081">92% (pre-air buzz)</td>
<td class="" data-start="4081" data-end="4114">N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="4115" data-end="4240">
<td class="" data-start="4115" data-end="4146">Viewer Count (Finale)</td>
<td class="" data-start="4146" data-end="4176">8.2 million</td>
<td class="" data-start="4176" data-end="4207">Unknown</td>
<td class="" data-start="4207" data-end="4240">Projected higher</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="4241" data-end="4366">
<td class="" data-start="4241" data-end="4272">Trailer Views (24h)</td>
<td class="" data-start="4272" data-end="4302">High</td>
<td class="" data-start="4302" data-end="4333">Record-breaking</td>
<td class="" data-start="4333" data-end="4366">Likely even higher</td>
</tr>
<tr data-start="4367" data-end="4492">
<td class="" data-start="4367" data-end="4398">Fan Anticipation</td>
<td class="" data-start="4398" data-end="4428">High</td>
<td class="" data-start="4428" data-end="4459">Off the charts</td>
<td class="" data-start="4459" data-end="4492">Only growing</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<p class="" data-start="4494" data-end="4614">It doesn’t take a data scientist to see why HBO pulled the trigger early. They’re riding a wave that hasn’t crested yet.</p>
<h2 class="" data-start="4616" data-end="4661">What Fans Can Expect from the Next Chapter</h2>
<p class="" data-start="4663" data-end="4828">Season two is expected to cover at least the first half of <em data-start="4722" data-end="4746">The Last of Us Part II</em> game storyline. And if you’ve played it, you know it&#8217;s not just more of the same.</p>
<p class="" data-start="4830" data-end="4952">It’s darker. It’s messier. It’s complicated in a way that pushes both characters and viewers into uncomfortable territory.</p>
<p class="" data-start="4954" data-end="5208">And while there’s no official word yet on how much of the game season two will cover, Druckmann previously hinted that the story might span more than one season. That all but confirms season three will dive deeper into the consequences of what’s to come.</p>
<p class="" data-start="5210" data-end="5377">Expect new characters, bigger action set pieces, and themes that will divide fans—but that’s part of why this series resonates so much. It doesn’t take the easy route.</p>
<p class="" data-start="5379" data-end="5431">One thing’s for sure: things are about to get heavy.</p>

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