'The Last Of Us' Episode 5 Streaming Earlier Due To The Super Bowl

Fans of HBO's "The Last of Us" are in luck because episode five of the hit post-apocalyptic drama is going to drop earlier than originally anticipated due to the Big Game. In anticipation of Super Bowl LVII, HBO has moved up the streaming and Video On Demand premiere date for the next episode of its new smash-hit series.

The next episode for the hit show will now air on Friday, February 10 at 9:00 pm on HBO Max and HBO On Demand. The show will still have its HBO premiere on Sunday, February 12 at 9:00 pm EST, but now fans with the HBO Max streaming service get to watch it a little bit earlier.

HBO announced the news on the show's official Twitter account, along with releasing a new preview. This appears to be an interesting strategy to have the show available for viewers ahead of the Super Bowl next weekend. The game will see the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles.

https://twitter.com/TheLastofUsHBO/status/1622429885334716419

It looks like things aren't going to be any easier for Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) as they venture through the quarantine zone. The show has been getting rave reviews and has become a huge hit for the premium cable network.

As previously reported by The Blast, HBO quickly renewed "The Last of Us" late last month before the third episode even aired on HBO. The enthusiasm and reception for the show have been incredibly high, so it's easily understandable why HBO would quickly lock it up for another season.

The second episode drew 5.7 million viewers across HBO Max and linear telecasts. Additionally, the first episode has been viewed by more than 22 million viewers domestically, per data from HBO. That's almost five times the initial audience when the show debuted earlier last month.

There has also been a great deal of buzz over the third episode, featuring the story of survivors Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett). The series is currently rated 97% by critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 91% audience score. So, the reception and success of the show so far have been exceptionally high.

New episodes of "The Last of Us" usually debut on Sunday on HBO. The first season will consist of nine episodes. The television series is created and executive produced by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckman. Druckman created the original Naughty Dog video games on which the show is based. The hit series stars Pascal, Ramsey, Gabriel Luna as Tommy, Anna Torv as Tess, Nico Parker as Sarah, Storm Reid as Riley, and Melanie Lynskey as Kathleen.

Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker, the original actors from the games who portrayed Joel and Ellie, will also appear in the show. Baker is also hosting the official companion podcast recap show for the series for HBO, titled "HBO's The Last of Us Podcast."

Meanwhile, Super Bowl LVII will air on Sunday, February 12 on the FOX Network. Kickoff starts at 6:30 pm EST. The game is being held at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.