Joel, Ellie Return to Fight Clickers

Joel and Ellie are back.

HBO released the first trailer for “The Last of Us” Season 2, featuring the return of Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie, the two zombie apocalypse survivors from the hit video game adaptation.

The eight-time Emmy-winning series (with 24 total nominations) chronicles the story of Joel and Ellie as they navigate a world overrun with zombies infected with a parasitic fungus — not to mention the ruthless vigilantes, mercenaries and cannibals just as desperate to survive.

Here’s the official logline for Season 2: “After five years of peace following the events of the first season, Joel and Ellie’s collective past catches up to them, drawing them into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.”

Just as the first season of “The Last of Us” was adapted from the acclaimed 2013 video game of the same title, Season 2 is expected to follow the events of its 2020 sequel, “The Last of Us Part II,” which deals with the fallout from Joel’s actions in the Season 1 finale.

Since the initial Season 2 announcement, many actors have already been confirmed to join the cast for the series’ second outing. Gabriel Luna will return as Joel’s brother, Tommy, and Rutina Wesley as Tommy’s wife, Maria.

New cast members this season include Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, Isabela Merced as Dina, Young Mazino as Jesse, Ariela Barer as Mel, Tati Gabrielle as Nora, Spencer Lord as Owen, and Danny Ramirez as Manny. Catherine O’Hara also guest stars in an undisclosed role. Jeffrey Wright who will play Issac, the ruthless leader of the Washington Liberation, a Seattle-based faction. Wright will reprise in live-action the role he originated in the hit video game sequel.

“The Last of Us” is written and executive produced by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. Both have also directed episodes of the show and will do so again in Season 2.

Carolyn Strauss and Evan Wells, president of Naughty Dog, executive produce along with PlayStation Productions’ Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, Jacqueline Lesko and Cecil O’Connor. The series is a co-production between HBO and Sony Pictures Television. PlayStation Productions, Word Games, The Mighty Mint and Naughty Dog produce.

Watch the trailer below.