It was a shock to hear that Neil Druckmann, the creator of The Last of Us and co-writer of the TV adaptation, left the show after the second season. Many wondered if there was a deeper reason behind the exit, but as Druckmann has since explained, he had been stretched so thin in recent years, he felt it was time to return firmly to video games. Plus, he left the show in the very capable hands of Craig Mazin. The Last of Us would be fine.
In the new interview, Druckmann spoke a bit more about his decision to leave, as well as his hopes for what the show will achieve in season three. “My hope for season three, and I would like to think that the best I can give it, is to make sure that it’s as deeply faithful as season one,” Druckmann told Variety . “Because I feel like that’s the gold standard for this kind of adaptation, while also enjoying all these beautiful expansions that are naturally happening with the rest of the team and how they’re working in season three. So if my involvement remains at that level, that’s a very high level.”
This statement lines up with everything we’ve heard about the third season, which is that the show will largely focus on Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever, just like in the video game. Interestingly, however, Druckmann teases that the third season won’t be the end of The Last of Us franchise as a whole. Mazin has previously said that the TV adaptation could go beyond the third season, but Druckmann seems to be teasing even more.
“With the show, I hope we end this story in a deeply faithful way, just as we began, and that will be the end of this version of the story. But it’s not the end of The Last of Us for Naughty Dog,” he said. “That doesn’t mean it’s going to be indoors or outdoors — we’re in talks about a number of things.”
What else could come from The Last of Us ? We don’t think it’s a new video game. In the same interview, Druckmann admits that they thought a lot about a third game after the second installment, but decided against it. So, is it a TV spinoff? Comics? An animated show? Speculate below. And read more from Druckmann about The Last of Us and his new game, Intergalactic , at Diversity in the Area.
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