“The Last of Us ”Season 2 Teaser Trailer Previews the Next Step in Joel and Ellie's Journey Through a Zombie-Filled World

The long-awaited second season will pick up five years after the events of season 1

Joel and Ellie still have plenty of battles ahead of them in The Last of Us season 2.

On Monday, Jan. 6, HBO announced that the long-awaited second season of the series — based on the 2013 video game of the same name — will premiere in April on Max. The streamer also unveiled a thrilling new teaser, giving fans their first look at some newcomers to the cast and what's more to come.

"It doesn't matter if you have a code like me, there are just some things everyone agrees are just wrong," a voice says in the teaser announcement, which kicks off with a look at Kaitlyn Dever as Abby.

There are still zombies aplenty for Pedro Pascal (Joel) and Bella Ramsey (Ellie) to fight — as Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and Maria (Rutina Wesley) continue to defend their settlement in Jackson, Wyoming — but this season, the risks are higher.

Ellie has a love interest in Dina (Isabela Merced) and viewers will also find out the fate of Tommy and Maria's baby, as she was revealed to be pregnant in season 1.

Related: The Last of Us: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey Are Ready for Their Next Big Adventure in Season 2 First Look

Per the official season 2 logline, season 2 takes place five years after the events of season 1 as "Joel and Ellie are drawn into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind."

Along with Dever and Merced, Jeffrey Wright will join the new season as Isaac while Danny Ramirez will appear as Manny. Other newcomers include Young Mazino Jesse, Ariela Barer as Mel, Tati Gabrielle as Nora and Spencer Lord as Owen.

Catherine O'Hara will also guest star.

Filming for season 2 began early last year, and at the 2024 SAG Awards, Pascal, 49, told reporters in the press room that things were "going amazing" right from the get-go.

"It's sort of awe-inspiring, the kind of focus and dedication that everyone has going into season 2," he said. "[Co-creator] Craig Mazin and Bella Ramsey are, for me, this guide and leadership that I’ve not experienced before. So it’s incredible to be back with them."

"Everybody, our entire crew, they’re working harder than I can even imagine, even harder than our first season — which is close to impossible," Pascal, who was fresh off a win for outstanding male actor in a drama series for season 1, added.

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Merced, 23, has similarly raved about what's to come in season 2. She teased the "romance" that will unfold between her and Ramsey's characters on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast in August.

"I think it's the romance between the two of us that really... Ugh, it brings a tear to my eye," she said when asked what she's most excited to see play out onscreen. "I have a whole playlist for Dina and Ellie. It's beautiful."

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Season 2 of The Last of Us premieres in April on HBO.