The Last of Us Season 3: Druckmann's Out, 2027's In, and HBO Isn't Sweating It (Apparently)
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
HBO's CEO isn't losing sleep over Neil Druckmann stepping back from *The Last of Us* TV series, even with a 2027 release window for Season 3, trusting Craig Mazin to keep the fungal flame burning bright. So buckle up, it seems the cordyceps crew will be back in business soon.
Right, so the apocalypse is officially scheduled for 2027... at least on HBO. According to Eurogamer, *The Last of Us* Season 3 is penciled in for then, which feels like an age away, doesn't it? But here's the real kicker: Neil Druckmann, the co-creator of the games and a big cheese on the show, is stepping back to focus on, well, making more video games. Big job, that.
Now, usually, this kind of news would send fans into a frenzy of speculation (and probably a few angry tweets). But HBO's CEO, Casey Bloy, seems remarkably chill about the whole thing. He reckons Druckmann's left them a "good blueprint" and that showrunner Craig Mazin (the *Chernobyl* genius) has got this. Fair enough, Mazin's track record is pretty solid. Though, let's be honest, adapting *The Last of Us* after *Chernobyl* is like going from defusing a nuclear reactor to, er, defusing a slightly less radioactive fungus-infected zombie. Still dangerous, mind you.
There's also some chatter about whether Season 3 will be the end, or if we'll get a fourth season. Bloy says Mazin's still figuring that out. Personally, I reckon they should stick the landing and not drag it out. Better to go out with a bang than a whimper, right? Plus, fewer seasons means less chance of messing up the source material... always a bonus.
And speaking of the source material, Druckmann's departure does raise a few eyebrows. He's basically the keeper of the *Last of Us* lore. But Bloy's got a point: the guy's running Naughty Dog. He's probably got enough on his plate without having to worry about whether Joel's beard is the right shade of grey. (It's important, though!)
The show's doing alright so far anyway: nominated for 16 Emmys for Season 2, including Outstanding Drama Series. Not bad, eh? Season 3 supposedly delves deeper into the WLF and Seraphites conflict - so expect even more gritty post-apocalyptic shenanigans. The question is, can they pull it off without Druckmann's direct involvement? I'm cautiously optimistic. Mazin's a clever bloke, and the blueprint's there. But, as any gamer knows, blueprints don't always guarantee a flawless playthrough.
Tags: The Last of Us, HBO, Neil Druckmann, Craig Mazin, TV Adaptation
Original article: Eurogamer