The Last of Us: next episode, cast, new trailer and everything you need to know

After what's felt like years of waiting, HBO's adaptation of The Last of Us has finally arrived and it's broken the video game adaptation curse as the series has won tons of praise since it started airing!

Based on the hugely popular PlayStation game of the same name, The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic drama that follows the unlikely duo of Joel and Ellie (here played by Game of Thrones alums, Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey). Smuggler Joel and Ellie set off on a journey across the United States that's been transformed in the wake of a pandemic that has seen vast swathes of the population transformed into horrifying monsters by an infection caused by the Cordyceps fungus.

In What To Watch's interview with Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, the duo noted the two characters' evolving relationship as a particular highlight. Bella said: "I really like how their relationship developed. How Ellie loves to make Joel laugh mirrored in real life how much I liked to make Pedro laugh".

Pedro added: "The gradual bond, and ultimately getting into a place where one can't live without the other, was just a perfect set-up."

The series has continued to grow more and more popular since the premiere, and HBO and Sky are keen to get even more eyes on the show to the point that you can now watch The Last Of Us episode 1 for free. Plus, the show's already been greenlit for a second season!

Here's everything we know about The Last Of Us so far...

The Last of Us release date: When is the next episode?

The Last of Us premiered on HBO and HBO Max on January 15, 2023. The series is also seemingly following the release pattern of other big-ticket HBO shows like House of the Dragon, as the show's UK debut on Sky TV premiered on Monday, January 16. 

New episodes will be released on a weekly basis, and there are 9 episodes in total. There's been a slight change to the release schedule this week. To allow fans to watch Super Bowl 2023 uninterrupted, HBO has decided to release the fifth episode early (Friday, February 10) this week. UK fans will also find the episode on Sky and NOW from 2 am on Saturday, February 11.

This announcement confirms that the release date leak was indeed true. Just days before this official reveal, HBO Max subscribers noted that a listing page for a sneak peek at the first season had claimed the series would arrive on Sunday, January 15. (via GamesRadar+) This news was then corroborated by video game news site, VGC, with their source claiming that an official reveal was meant to be scheduled for later this week.

Our very first look at the show came in the form of a photo shared on "The Last of Us Day" back in 2021, an annual celebration of the two games developed by Naughty Dog Studios which you can see below:

The Last Of Us reviews

Reviews of The Last Of Us' first season were released on January 10, 2023, and it's fair to say they were very positive; as of our most recent update, it sits at a 97% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Below you can find a snapshot of what some outlets had to say about the show when reviews first landed. 

Empire gave the series a five-star review and said it was: "comfortably the best adaptation of a video-game ever made: one that deepens the game's dystopian lore, while staying true to its emotional core. Like the game, it's a masterpiece, too." 

IGN gave the series a 9/10 and highlighted Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal's performances: "Anchored by two outstanding lead performances from Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal, it delivers an enriching show for fans of the PlayStation hit, while also managing to stay welcomingly thrilling to newcomers."

Writing for BBC Culture, Stephen Kelly said: "For fans of the game, it is an adaptation of the utmost skill and reverence, yet one still capable of surprise; for people who have never picked up a controller, it is an encapsulation of the game's heart and soul – its full-blooded characters, its neat plotting, its mature themes of love and loss."

What's the plot?

The first season of The Last of Us is adapting the first game in the series. Released in 2013 for the PlayStation 3, the majority of the events of that first title take place in the near future, after more than 60% of the world's population has been infected by the brain-altering Cordyceps fungus, which transforms people into horrifying monsters within days of their exposure.

It followed protagonist Joel who is a smuggler entrusted with transporting Ellie a girl who is revealed to be immune to the Cordyceps infection out of the Boston quarantine zone. 

From there, the story follows the pair as they continue their journey westward to get her to the Fireflies, a resistance group who believe Ellie's immunity can lead to the development of a cure. Throughout their trip, they encounter hostile factions, form brief partnerships with other survivors, and fend off some of the monsters formed through exposure to the virus.

At Brazil's CCXP (where the trailer first debuted), the game's creator and show co-creator, Neil Druckmann, revealed that the series wasn't just going to be a straight adaptation of the game, though, as he claimed that things that were left out of the original game have been added back into the story for the show. Craig Mazin said: "If you've played the game, I promise you, there are things that you don't know that are coming that will blow your mind". (via Naughty Dog Info on Twitter).

Below you'll find links to our full episodic recaps of the show so far. Be warned, there are major spoilers below: 

The Last Of Us episode summaries

Episode One, "When You're Lost In The Darkness"

Joel goes through "Outbreak Day". Twenty years on, we join him and his smuggling partner, Tess, who set out on a dangerous mission; deliver Ellie to the Fireflies.

Episode Two, "Infected"

Tess, Joel and Ellie leave the Boston Quarantine Zone behind. They encounter some Clickers, and Tess sacrifices her life to ensure Joel and Ellie can continue on the road.

Episode Three, "Long, Long Time"

Joel and Ellie head to meet Bill and Frank; we see their love story play out in full for the majority of the episode, before Joel and Ellie arrive at their compound, grab supplies and head off.

Episode Four, "Please Hold My Hand"

Joel and Ellie continue on their journey westwards; traveling through Kansas City, they come into conflict with a group of hostile survivors hunting for a fugitive. 

Who's in The Last of Us cast?

The Last of Us stars Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian) as Joel alongside Game of Thrones alum Bella Ramsey as Ellie, the young girl he's tasked with transporting across the United States to the rebel group, the Fireflies.

Gabriel Luna (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) is on hand as Tommy Miller, Joel's younger brother. Tommy is a former soldier and still clings to his sense of idealism and hopes for a better world (via Variety).

Additional cast includes: Anna Torv (Fringe) as Joel's smuggling partner, Tess, Merle Dandridge who is reprising her role from the games as Marlene, the leader of the Fireflies resistance movement, Nico Parker (Dumbo) as Joel's daughter, Sarah, Storm Reid (A Wrinkle in Time, Euphoria) as Ellie's best friend, Riley, and Jeffrey Pierce (who played Tommy in the games) is set to appear as Perry, a new addition to the franchise.

IGN revealed that Lamar Johnson and Keivonn Woodard had been cast as brothers, Henry and Sam. Graham Greene and Elaine Miles are also due to appear as Marlon and Florence, two new characters who have been added to the series. Finally, renowned voice actors Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson— who played and provided motion capture for Joel and Ellie in the original games— are set to appear in the show in new roles. 

For more info on the major cast members, check out our full The Last Of Us cast guide.

Is there a trailer for The Last of Us?

On December 3, 2022, we were finally treated to the full trailer for The Last of Us. This fresh look at the series shows Joel and Ellie at many points in their journey across the States and features characters and tense moments that fans of the game will surely recognize, and ends with a terrifying look at a Bloater, one of the franchise's most formidable foes. 

On "The Last Of Us Day" (September 26), one of the many announcements from the game's universe was a teaser for the show. It shows off the grim reality of this version of post-apocalyptic America, gives us a glimpse at the terrifying infected creatures that stalk the land and teases plenty of exciting action. We also previously saw some footage in a teaser for what was coming to HBO Max, though this video has since been taken down. 

Who's worked on The Last of Us TV series?

Neil Druckmann— who wrote the original game's story— co-wrote the show alongside Craig Mazin, who is best known for writing the HBO miniseries, Chernobyl.

Kantemir Balagov was named as the director of the pilot episode, and original game composer Gustavo Santaolalla returned to the franchise to provide the score for the show.