Hold onto your infected spores, “The Last of Us” fans! We’ve got big news. Neil Druckmann, the visionary creator of the beloved video game and co-creator of the hit HBO series adaptation, has announced he’s stepping away from his creative involvement with the show ahead of its third season. A statement was posted on the Naughty Dog x/Twitter page (below).
Druckmann shared the difficult decision on X via video game developer Naughty Dog, where he serves as Studio Head and Head of Creative. “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,” he stated.
He also expressed his gratitude for the experience: “Co-creating the show has been a career highlight. 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 the continued adaptation of The Last of Us Part II.”
Craig Mazin Takes the Reins Solo
With Druckmann’s departure, Craig Mazin, who has been his creative partner for the first two seasons, will take the lead. He will now serve as the sole showrunner and lead writer for the series. This means Mazin will be flying solo as the primary creative force guiding the future of the acclaimed adaptation.
What’s Next: Abby’s Story
As for what’s ahead in the series, the upcoming third season will primarily focus on Abby’s side of the story. This directly mirrors the approach taken by The Last of Us Part II video game, which the HBO series is adapting across at least two seasons of television. Abby is played by Kaitlyn Dever, who joined the cast for the second season, in which she killed Joel (Pedro Pascal).
As series co-creator Craig Mazin recently noted, “Abby is the hero of her story.” So, “The Last of Us” Season 3 will dive deep into what Abby was doing while Ellie was relentlessly hunting her down in Seattle, giving us her perspective on the events.
Stay tuned for more updates on the upcoming third season as Mazin takes complete creative control!
— Naughty Dog (@Naughty_Dog) May 26, 2023
