The Last of Us is about to get its second season, as HBO will officially bring The Last of Us Part 2 to life. Naughty Dog's post-apocalyptic saga continues to be one of the most emotional franchises in gaming, and The Last of Us fans are in for a harrowing time with the arrival of season two. Part 2 was a divisive story, and some level of controversy is bound to be sparked again with the HBO series.
Whether one is an original fan of the games or only knows The Last of Us through the TV adaptation, season two is going to be a wild ride regardless. The outcome of Part 2 still brings up heated discussion, and it makes the prospect of a Part 3 that much more nerve-wracking. It's unclear what Naughty Dog has in store for gamers regarding more The Last of Us chapters, but HBO's plans for the series may ultimately bring forth some answers.
HBO's Ambitions For The Last of Us Could Pave the Way For Part 3
The Last of Us TV Show May Get Four Seasons
- The Last of Us season 2 premieres April 13.
Speaking to Deadline, HBO executive Francesca Orsi reconfirmed that The Last of Us is likely to stretch over four seasons. Orsi isn't the only person to hint at four seasons, either. Show writers Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin have also recently made similar claims. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Mazin said, "I think it's pretty likely that our story will extend past a season 3. How far past? I can't say. And that's not to say that there are not other stories that could be told, but this story is the one that Neil and I are telling." Druckmann states in the same interview, "We have a plan. We know what we need to do going forward, but we couldn't tell you right now exactly how many episodes or how many seasons it would take to get there."
It's a compelling development, and one that raises a lot of questions. If the second season only details a portion of Part 2, it makes one wonder what the stopping point for the season will be. Also, after a potential third season, it potentially implies that the story could go past Part 2. It's important to note that this would go directly against Druckmann's previous claims. Back in 2023, he said to the Hollywood Reporter, "We have no plans to tell any stories beyond adapting the games." However, Druckmann's recent stance on Part 3 may signal the franchise creator is pedaling back on his previous comments.
I think it's pretty likely that our story will extend past a season 3. How far past? I can't say.
Neil Druckmann's Hints That Part 3 May Never Happen
In a recent interview with Variety, Druckmann said, "I guess the only thing I would say is don’t bet on there being more of ‘Last of Us.’ This could be it," when asked about Part 3. This was definitely a surprise for a lot of fans, since Druckmann once stated that he had a general idea for Part 3.
Kaitlyn Dever will be playing Abby in season 2 of The Last of Us.
Now that it seems as though he's changing his stance on certain directions for The Last of Us, it's highly possible that a fourth season could be used to wrap up the open-ended finale of Part 2. This would be controversial, but it seems more likely than ever now. Alternatively, Druckmann could be misdirecting fans and a Part 3 could be in the works. Assuming that HBO executive Orsi's four-season claim holds up, and that Part 2 is told across seasons 3 and 4, fans could be in for a more linear and less complex game in Part 3. Like the first, it would be told in one season, suggesting that players may not be hopping between two characters this time around.
Only time will tell, of course, but there are now more questions than ever about what the future of The Last of Us holds. Now that Naughty Dog has introduced a new IP with Intergalactic, The Last of Us may have taken its final bow in gaming.
