HBO have released the first official images of The Last of Us season 2 and confirmed a 2025 premiere. During a Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront presentation, photos of an older Joel (Pedro Pascal) and a still-angry Ellie (Bella Ramsey) were unveiled. Fans of the Naughty Dog games from which seasons 1 and 2 are adapted might recognize the settings and scenes from the two images. We won’t spoil anything for non-game TLOU fans, but if the emotion and tension in season 1 reeled you in, season 2 has a whole lot more coming.

Adapted from the Naughty Dog post-apocalyptic game of the same name, season 1 of The Last of Us broke the HBO record for most-watched debut season of a series ever in 2023. Now, season 2 aims to continue on that success. Show runner Craig Mazin returns for this further adaptation, along with actors Pascal, Ramsey, Gabriel Luna and Rutina Wesley. Newcomers to the show include Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, Ariela Barer, Tati Gabriel, Spencer Lord, Danny Ramirez, and Catherine O’Hara.

Apart from the casting, and now these two photos, Mazin and other creators have been tight-lipped about the direction season 2 will take. How close will it stick to the game’s events? What additions or cuts can we expect? These are all questions we’ll have to wait at least eight months to find out.

If it’s anything like season 1, though, we can assume it will be worth the wait.

The Last of Us season 2 will air in 2025, but you can watch (re-watch) all of season 1 on Max now.