The heart of Sydney was thrown into cinematic chaos last night as the State Theatre was transformed into a decaying, post-apocalyptic world to host the Australian premiere of “The Last of Us” Season 2 — and mark the official arrival of Warner Bros. Discovery’s global streaming platform Max in Australia.
Blurring the line between fiction and reality, the landmark venue became an immersive set piece evocative of the HBO Original drama, with cast members from both “The Last of Us” and fellow juggernaut series “The White Lotus” walking the red carpet in front of crumbling set design and dilapidated signage that mirrored the dystopian world of the show.
Stars in attendance included Bella Ramsey (Ellie), Gabriel Luna (Tommy), Kaitlyn Dever (Abby), Isabela Merced (Dina), Young Mazino (Jesse) and Jeffrey Wright (Isaac), as well as “The White Lotus” cast members Patrick Schwarzenegger, Leslie Bibb, Natasha Rothwell and Morgana O’Reilly, who also feature in the third season of the award-winning satire.
“The Last of Us” Season 2, premiering April 14 on Max, follows the runaway success of the show’s debut season, which became one of the most-watched HBO series of all time. The first look at the new season amassed over 158 million views in its first three days across platforms, confirming the show’s status as a global phenomenon. Adapted from the critically acclaimed video game series, the new episodes continue to expand its world, with new characters and darker twists ahead.
Meanwhile, the third season of “The White Lotus,” set in Thailand, has continued its cultural dominance, ranking as the No. 1 title on Max in both the U.S. and globally. The entire season is now available to stream in Australia, ahead of the finale airing April 7.
The launch of Max in Australia brings together the full slate of Warner Bros. Discovery brands — including HBO Originals, Warner Bros. films, Max Originals, the DC Universe, “Harry Potter, “Discovery content, Cartoon Network, HGTV and more — under one roof for the first time. With the expansion, local audiences now have access to prestige dramas like “Succession,” “True Detective: Night Country” and “Euphoria,” alongside fan favourites like “Game of Thrones,” “Sex and the City” and “The Sopranos.”
“Max represents the next evolution of our streaming experience,” said Warner Bros. Discovery in a statement. “It’s about bringing together our most iconic storytelling brands into a single destination where viewers can immerse themselves in everything from groundbreaking drama to real-life docuseries, sport, animation and beyond.”
Subscriptions are available now at www.max.com, with content available to stream via mobile devices, gaming consoles, tablets and smart TVs.