Neil Druckmann is making it very clear that whatever happens in The Last of Us Season 3, he and Naughty Dog weren’t involved in shaping its creative direction.
Druckmann, creator of the games and former co-showrunner of HBO’s adaptation, previously announced his departure from the series following its Season 3 renewal.
Craig Mazin is continuing as the sole showrunner, but Druckmann has now clarified that his exit also means Naughty Dog itself had no creative role in developing the upcoming season.
Speaking with The Washington Post, Druckmann explained: “I wasn’t involved in shaping this season’s creative direction, and Naughty Dog did not have a creative role in the direction of this season. So I can’t personally speak to how production is progressing.
“It’s important for us to note that as the creator of the games, Naughty Dog is still the steward of this IP and even though this might be the end of this adaptation, we’re not done with The Last of Us.”
That’s a pretty significant separation considering how closely Druckmann and Naughty Dog were connected to the first two seasons. Season 3 is now firmly Mazin’s show creatively, while Druckmann has turned his attention back to Naughty Dog and its games.
It has me a little worried that there’s absolutely no guidance from from Druckmann or Naughty Dog. Things could go completely off the rails! But I hope it doesn’t.
Druckmann also confirmed that Season 3 will “wrap up” the HBO series. There had previously been some uncertainty over whether adapting The Last of Us Part II would require one or two additional seasons.
Production on The Last of Us Season 3 began in March and is expected to continue through November. Based on the game and where Season 2 left viewers, Kaitlyn Dever will take center stage as Abby Anderson.
The new season is expected to revisit portions of the story we’ve already experienced, this time from Abby’s perspective, before eventually catching back up with the present-day events of the series.
Bella Ramsey will return as Ellie, with Gabriel Luna as Tommy Miller, Isabela Merced as Dina, and Young Mazino as Jesse. Michelle Mao and Kyriana Kratter are also joining the cast as Yara and Lev, two characters who become important to Abby’s story.
Druckmann stepping away certainly makes Season 3 an interesting chapter for the HBO adaptation. Mazin now has full control of bringing the remaining story to television without the game’s creator directly involved in its creative decisions.
