Summary
- The Last of Us season 2 will cover a portion of the game sequel and have fewer episodes than season 1, potentially setting up a three- or four-season arc.
- Viewers can expect a focus on Ellie and Joel's dynamic in season 2, with key events from season 1 playing a role in the upcoming episodes.
- While hints of a potential season 4 exist, it's hard to see how the creators could spread one game across three separate seasons.
The Last of Us season 2 is already in the works, and the creators have thoughts about seasons 3 and 4 — but there may be questions about what their plans mean for the HBO show and its future. Starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us became a massive hit upon its 2023 debut. Based on the Naughty Dog game of the same name, the series follows Joel (Pascal) and Ellie (Ramsey) as they navigate a United States ravaged by a parasitic fungal infection that turns humans into monsters.
The Last of Us season 2 is in production, and it will delve into the events of Naughty Dog's sequel game. New updates from the HBO show's creators, Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, tease how much of The Last of Us Part II the next outing could cover. Mazin and Druckmann revealed that season 2 will be shorter than the first outing. They also suggested the series could go beyond the sophomore season, even though The Last of Us season 3 isn't officially confirmed. With only two games currently available, their plans raise questions about how the coming episodes will unfold.
Why The Last Of Us Season 2 Will Be Shorter Than Season 1
The New Episodes Only Cover Part Of The Last Of Us Part II
In an interview with Deadline, Mazin and Druckmann elaborated on their plans for the future of The Last of Us. They revealed that The Last of Us season 2 will have fewer episodes than the show's first outing. Given all there is to cover from the second game — and how popular season 1 was — it may come as a surprise that season 2 will only be seven episodes long. However, it makes more sense after Mazin's explanation that season 2 will not cover the entirety of The Last of Us Part II.
The creators are already anticipating The Last of Us season 3, and they suggested it might take four seasons to finish the narrative.
Mazin explained that a big part of planning the series involved determining how to "tell that story across seasons." The creators are already anticipating The Last of Us season 3, and they suggested it might take four seasons to finish the narrative. With that in mind, they chose to end The Last of Us season 2 in a place that felt like a "natural breakpoint." Given how early Joel perishes in The Last of Us Part II, it's probably safe to assume his death will happen next season. However, it sounds like Ellie's revenge plot may only be partly covered.
The Last Of Us Season 2 Will Revisit Events From Season 1
Viewers Could See Flashbacks Featured In The Games
The Last of Us season 2 won't cover the entire second game in its seven-episode run, and this makes even more sense after another revelation about the new season. Per Druckmann, The Last of Us season 2 will revisit key events from the first outing. “The two stories are so interconnected that inevitably we’re going to be touching on things from the first season or the first game because there is a continuation of those characters,” he told Deadline. This means the HBO show may drag out tensions from season 1. It could also feature flashbacks from The Last of Us Part II.
With the series so focused on Ellie and Joel's relationship, flashbacks to their time together will be a welcome development.
This approach could be frustrating for viewers eager to see where Ellie ends up. However, it makes sense in the grand scheme of HBO's adaptation. With the series so focused on Ellie and Joel's relationship, flashbacks to their time together will be a welcome development. They'll help fuel Ellie's revenge storyline, and they'll give Pascal more time in the series, even after Joel's inevitable death. With The Last of Us season 2 placing such a heavy emphasis on the events of season 1, it seems like season 3 will show the full fallout of Joel's demise.
The Last Of Us Season 3 Will Likely Cover The Bulk Of Part II
Ellie's Showdown With Abby Likely Won't Appear Until Season 3
With The Last of Us season 2 poised to focus heavily on Ellie and Joel, season 3 will probably cover the bulk of The Last of Us Part II. Ellie's quest for revenge may begin in the sophomore season, but her hunt for — and eventual showdown with — Abby seems more likely to unfold later on. The next batch of episodes will introduce Kaitlyn Dever's Abby, but they may spend more time developing her before digging into the meat of her game storyline. Mazin hinted that the HBO show will dive more deeply into certain characters, though he didn't specify who.
Such deep dives will help prolong the HBO adaptation, and they further explain the need for two seasons to cover The Last of Us Part II. While the second outing can't avoid covering some major game events, it sounds like it could be more of a bridge between seasons 1 and 3. By elaborating on game characters and storylines further, the parts of the sequel that are covered in The Last of Us season 3 are likely to hit harder. And Druckmann assured Deadline that none of the additions to the series are "padding" and that "everything that is in there is intentional."
Those reassurances come as a relief, but they also raise questions about the prospect of The Last of Us continuing beyond season 3. The creators teased that possibility, and it's hard to see why it would be necessary. However, with whispers of another Last of Us game surfacing, perhaps they'll have more material to work with soon.
The Last Of Us May Need 4 Seasons To Complete Its Story
After teasing a "larger" third outing for The Last of Us, the creators admitted that "the story may require Season 4.” This isn't confirmation of a third game, though Druckmann's recent comments about a potential Last of Us Part III are promising. Instead, it sounds as though their coverage of The Last of Us Part II could take three full seasons. This isn't definite, and it will likely depend on how much they're able to adapt if The Last of Us is renewed for season 3. However, it does raise questions about just how much new content they plan on adding.
While The Last of Us Part II has a large scope and plenty of threads to expand on, it's hard to see how HBO could make four seasons without moving past the second game
While The Last of Us Part II has a large scope and plenty of threads to expand on, it's hard to see how HBO could make four seasons without moving past the second game. At some point, the series will need to venture into all-new territory. By then, it's possible another game will come out. If not, The Last of Us may take the risk of going beyond the source material. Whatever happens, it sounds like fans can expect plenty more from the television series in the coming years. Only time will tell if stretching the story so long is a net positive.
