As production for Season 3 of HBO’s The Last of Us begins, a significant creative shakeup is underway. Neil Druckmann, the co-creator and director of the acclaimed Naughty Dog video games that inspired the series, will be stepping back from his creative role. Sources have confirmed to Deadline that Druckmann will not write or direct any episodes for the upcoming season. However, he will retain his position as a co-creator and executive producer.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Druckmann explained his decision, saying, “I’ve made the difficult decision to step away from my creative involvement in The Last of Us on HBO. With work completed on Season 2 and before any meaningful work starts on Season 3, now is the right time for me to transition my complete focus to Naughty Dog and its future projects, including writing and directing our exciting next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, along with my responsibilities as Studio Head and Head of Creative.”
Druckmann expressed gratitude for the opportunity to co-create the series, stating, “It’s been an honor to work alongside Craig Mazin to executive produce, direct, and write on the last two seasons. I’m deeply thankful for the thoughtful approach and dedication the talented cast and crew took to adapting The Last of Us Part I and their continued adaptation of The Last of Us Part II.” He concluded his statement by expressing anticipation for HBO and PlayStation Productions to continue the stories of Ellie and Abby in the upcoming season.
The impact of Druckmann’s reduced involvement in Season 3 remains uncertain. Throughout the first two seasons, he played a pivotal role alongside showrunner Craig Mazin, ensuring that the HBO adaptation stayed true to the essence of the video games. Druckmann is credited as a writer or co-writer on five episodes and directed two, including the climactic episode of Season 2.
In a separate statement, Mazin remarked, “It’s been a creative dream to work with Neil and bring an adaptation of his brilliant work to life on HBO. I couldn’t have asked for a more generous creative partner. As a true fan of Naughty Dog and Neil’s work in video games, I’m beyond excited to play his next game. While he focuses on that, I’ll continue to work with our brilliant cast and crew to deliver the show our audience has come to expect.”
Season 3 of The Last of Us is anticipated to delve deeper into the narrative established in The Last of Us Part II. The previous season concluded with a cliffhanger, hinting that Kaitlyn Dever’s character, Abby, will take center stage in the forthcoming installment. As of now, HBO has not confirmed whether this season will mark the conclusion of the series.
Based on Naughty Dog’s award-winning video game, The Last of Us is set 20 years after the collapse of modern civilization. The story follows Joel, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, a hardened survivor who is tasked with smuggling Ellie (played by Bella Ramsey), a 14-year-old girl, out of a repressive quarantine zone. What begins as a simple job quickly escalates into a brutal and emotional journey, forcing both characters to navigate the perilous landscape of a post-apocalyptic United States.
Season 2 picks up five years after the events of the first season, thrusting Joel and Ellie into new conflicts amidst a world that has become even more dangerous and unpredictable.
The Ankler was the first to report the news of Druckmann’s departure from his creative responsibilities in The Last of Us.
