HBO has renewed "The Last of Us" for a third season following record-breaking viewership numbers for its second season premiere, which attracted 12.5 million viewers across linear and streaming platforms. The network has ordered 10 episodes for the upcoming season, with production set to begin in New Zealand this fall.
The renewal, which came before the second season finale, represents an unusual vote of confidence from a network that typically waits for complete season data before committing to future installments. "We have never had a show with this trajectory," said HBO programming chief Casey Bloys.
The series, starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, has been critically acclaimed and has driven significant subscriber growth for Max. "The Last of Us" is estimated to have generated 1.2 million new HBO Max subscriptions following its debut.
"The creative team has delivered beyond our highest expectations, and we want to ensure they have the resources and time to bring this story to its proper conclusion," said HBO parent company Warner Bros. Discovery CEO John Stankey.
The series has been praised for its faithful adaptation of the video game source material while expanding character development and thematic depth. The third season is expected to complete the story arc of the second video game, "The Last of Us Part II."