The Last of Us star Isabela Merced has broken her silence on video game creator Neil Druckmann's departure from the series. Merced plays Dina in The Last of Us season 2. One of the residents of Jackson, Wyoming, Dina becomes close friends with Ellie (Bella Ramsey) before the pair enter into a romantic relationship.
In an interview with TVLine, Merced shares her reaction to Druckmann and co-executive producer Halley Gross exiting the series. She praises Gross for her involvement in helping to flesh out Dina's character. She clarifies that she doesn't know the details of what happened, but trusts the creatives on the show. Check out her comments below:
Halley was a big part of the game, and the reason why Dina was such a fleshed-out character, and why that love between Dina and Ellie was so beautiful. And I was really looking forward to working with them more, but I understand that they have their own projects. I don't know the full story, but I know that I trust in the team, and that they're making the best decisions, cause at the end of the day everyone just cares about this.
But moving forward, I'm going to keep in touch with them. I'm definitely going to keep in touch with them, so if I have any concerns as a fan of the game, originally, I would definitely bring them up. I'm not involved with the behind-the-scenes of it all, I wish I was, cause I'm a control freak, but I trust in Craig [Mazin].
What This Means For The Last Of Us Season 3
Image via Max
Druckmann's exit from the series came as a massive surprise when he made his announcement. Given his role in the show as co-creator with Craig Mazin, and how successful the series has been, the departure blindsided viewers. There was no indication of behind-the-scenes turmoil or drama before he left.
The Last of Us season 3 will see the show go in a different direction, following Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) and telling the events of the past season from her point of view. Given that Abby has limited interactions with the faces the audience has grown familiar with, it remains to be seen how many of The Last of Us characters, like Dina, will appear.
Our Take On Merced's Comments
While The Last of Us season 2 had some vocal detractors on social media and was reviewed bombed on Rotten Tomatoes, the series has been an overall success. When a talent as involved as Druckmann leaves a show, it does understandably create a level of concern about maintaining the established quality.
As Merced shares her faith in the creative team, I have to agree with her. Given that The Last of Us season 3 is still a long way out, and not a single frame from the season has been seen, it comes down to wait and see. The Last of Us has never been afraid of making bold decisions, so hopefully, the new direction the show takes without Druckmann will be a success.
