HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ Renewed for Second Season — & Game Fans Are Extra Nervous

The critically acclaimed HBO series The Last of Us has been renewed for a second season. The announcement hit social media Friday morning (January 27) from HBO.

“The journey continues,” the official Twitter accounts for HBO and HBO Max read. [The Last of Us] will return for another season on [HBO Max].”

“I’m so grateful to [executive producer] Neil Druckmann and HBO for our partnership, and I’m even more grateful to the millions of people who have joined us on this journey,” executive producer Craig Mazin said in a statement. “The audience has given us the chance to continue, and as a fan of the characters and world Neil and Naughty Dog created, I couldn’t be more ready to dive back in.”

Druckmann added that Season 1 had “exceeded my already high expectations” and that he’s looking forward to the next chapter. “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,” he said. “Now we have the absolute pleasure of being able to do it again with season two!”

The first season of The Last of Us has released its first two of nine episodes. Episode 1 has surpassed 22 million U.S. viewers, up nearly five times its viewership on its premiere night. Episode 2 saw a 22 percent increase in viewers, which made it the largest of any HBO original drama series in the history of the network.

“Craig and Neil, alongside EP Carolyn Strauss, and the rest of our phenomenal cast and crew, have defined a genre with their masterful debut season of ‘The Last of Us,’” said Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President of HBO Programming and Head of HBO Drama Series and Films. “After pulling off this unforgettable first season, I can’t wait to watch this team outshine themselves again with season two.”

Knowing the success of season one hasn’t stopped game fans from being nervous about what is to come. Without giving anything away about what comes for The Last of Us, season two is most likely going to be the second game. And for those who know…they’re not ready.

Many were just straight-up crying and in pain because they know what is to come in the second game.

Some were looking at those who don’t know like…

Others were saying that fans should be scared.

And everyone agreed they were looking forward to grown-up Ellie and the relationships she forms in the second game. 

On the off chance The Last of Us doesn’t do the second game, we’d love to see Ellie grow up with Joel and go on other adventures. Because there’s no way that nothing season worthy didn’t happen between the first and second games. If anything, we think the creators will use this as an opportunity to tell stories they’ve always wanted to tell and that we’ve never seen.

The Last of Us airs on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.