'The Last of Us' Co-Creator's Shock Exit Ahead of Season 3 Addressed by HBO Max Boss

The Last of Us is preparing for its next chapter — but without one of its most important creators. Following news that Naughty Dog studio head and The Last of Us game creator Neil Druckmann is stepping away from the HBO adaptation ahead of Season 3, Casey Bloys, Chairman/CEO of HBO and Max content, has officially weighed in on the decision and what it means for the future of the Emmy-winning series. Speaking with Variety during a celebratory round of interviews following HBO and Max’s record-breaking 142 Emmy nominations, Bloys addressed the elephant in the room: Druckmann’s departure.

"Obviously it was great to have Neil involved in the beginning. The whole reason that I wanted to do Last of Us is after Chernobyl, I said to Craig [Mazin], ‘What do you want to do next?’ And Last of Us was what he wanted to do. That’s what was most important to me — Craig’s creative excitement about the show."

While Druckmann's departure caught some fans off guard, Bloys made it clear this wasn’t a behind-the-scenes clash. Instead, it was about priorities. “A lot of people don’t realize that Neil has a full-time job creating video games and running Naughty Dog. It’s a really big job that he’s got,” Bloys explained. “So I understand why he needs to focus on that. But I believe he’s given us a good blueprint with the show. And obviously Craig is a pro, so I think we’ll be in excellent shape. I’m not worried at all.”

When Will 'The Last of Us' Season 3 Be Out?

According to Bloys, Season 3 is being targeted for the 2026–2027 TV season. While the number of remaining seasons hasn’t been finalized, Mazin is reportedly still deciding whether to conclude the adaptation with one long season or stretch it across two more.

As for casting questions — especially with Pedro Pascal’s Joel already written out and Bella Ramsey’s role as Ellie in flux — Bloys isn’t too worried. “Not from a marketing perspective,” he said. “The title is obviously helped by the video game, and now the first two seasons are pretty well established. I kind of appreciate shows that take things and do a show from a different point of view.”

The upcoming season is expected to follow Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby, who was last seen shooting Tommy (Gabriel Luna) and killing Jesse (Young Mazino) before pulling the trigger on Ellie. The finale cliffhanger hinted at a three-day rewind focused on Abby’s POV — something that may complicate fan loyalty, especially if the writers stick to their plan of making her a protagonist by the end of the arc.

The Last of Us is now streaming on Max. Season 3 is set to premiere in 2027.