Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Last of Us Part II.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, co-showrunners Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin opened up about their approach to The Last of Us season 2 and beyond. The creators have ambitious plans for the second season of the show, but they have even more ambitious plans for where the series will go after that. Whereas the story of the first game fit neatly into a single season of television, the gargantuan nonlinear narrative of The Last of Us Part II will be a lot trickier to adapt for TV. So, how many seasons will The Last of Us go for?
The Last Of Us Will Likely Extend Past Season 3
HBO Hasn't Officially Greenlit The Last Of Us Season 3
It’s been confirmed that The Last of Us TV show won’t be covering the entirety of Part II’s story in season 2, and that the sequel’s narrative will spill over into at least season 3. HBO hasn’t officially greenlit a third season of the show just yet — the network is probably waiting to get the numbers back when season 2 airs — but it seems likely to happen. The Last of Us has been one of HBO’s biggest hit shows in recent years and season 2 is highly anticipated, so it’ll surely replicate that success and secure another season.
Mazin and Druckmann confirmed that, while a season 3 renewal isn’t official, they’ve discussed another season with HBO. Mazin said, “It’s pretty likely that our story will extend past a season 3.” He wouldn’t confirm how much further than season 3 the show would go, but he did tease that there were “other stories that could be told” in The Last of Us universe after Joel, Ellie, and Abby’s story is complete. For now, he and Druckmann are focusing on that core storyline from the games, and that story could end up going into season 4.
Why The Last Of Us Might Run Until Season 4
The Santa Barbara Section Might Need Its Own Season
After HBO’s The Last of Us managed to cover an entire game in its first season, it might seem unreasonable to take three whole seasons to cover the next one. But The Last of Us Part II is a much bigger, broader, and more epic story than its predecessor. Based on the structure of the second game, it makes sense that the creators might need to split up the TV adaptation across seasons 2, 3, and 4. The game is divided into two distinctive halves, each covering the exact same timeline, but there’s also an extensive epilogue.
Based on the trailers for The Last of Us season 2, it seems to be more or less following the structure of the game. The trailers are full of scenes from the prologue in Jackson and Ellie’s three fateful days in Seattle. Ellie is seen playing “Take on Me” for Dina and confronting Nora at the hospital. Presumably, season 2 will cover Ellie’s three days in Seattle before switching to Abby’s perspective for season 3. Lev and Yara haven’t been cast for season 2, suggesting that their role (which is integral to Abby’s story) is being saved for season 3.
From Ellie’s PTSD on the farm to her showdown with the Rattlers, there’s just enough content in that epilogue to fill out a whole season (albeit a slightly shorter one than the previous seasons).
It would certainly be a bold move to immerse audiences entirely in Abby’s perspective for the duration of season 3, but that boldness is part of the point. It’s what forces the audience to empathize with their enemy in the game. But even after getting through all three days in Seattle twice over, there’s still an extensive epilogue set in Santa Barbara. From Ellie’s PTSD on the farm to her showdown with the Rattlers, there’s just enough content in that epilogue to fill out a whole season (albeit a slightly shorter one than the previous seasons).
The Last Of Us' Future On HBO Remains To Be Confirmed
The Creators Are Being As Vague As Possible
As ambitious as the creators are, The Last of Us’ future on HBO is uncertain as of yet. Whereas The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power was conceived with a clear five-season plan in mind, Druckmann and Mazin are reluctant to put a number on The Last of Us. They’ve confirmed that they’re planning a third season and a possible fourth season beyond that, but they’re deliberately not discussing specific numbers of episodes or seasons. Rather than committing to four seasons or five seasons, they’re taking it one season at a time.
They’ve confirmed that they’re planning a third season and a possible fourth season beyond that, but they’re deliberately not discussing specific numbers of episodes or seasons.
Druckmann and Mazin are being as vague as possible in discussing their plans for The Last of Us’ future, and it’s likely because they haven’t decided how many seasons they’ll do yet. After season 2 has been released, Druckmann and Mazin will move on to season 3 and figure out where to take the story in that season. During that story-breaking process, they’ll undoubtedly determine how much to leave on the table for a potential season 4. After the blockbuster ratings for season 1, HBO will probably want to keep The Last of Us going for as long as possible.
Is Four Seasons Too Much For The Last Of Us?
The Last Of Us Saga Has A Lot Of Ground To Cover
Given that The Last of Us expended half of its source material in its first season, it might seem excessive to go for another three seasons on top of that. But it’s not really that excessive, considering how massive the second game is. Covering The Last of Us Part II in just one season, or even two seasons would be limiting. The sequel has a much bigger story, a much larger world, and a much more sprawling ensemble of characters than the first game. There’s a lot of material for the next three seasons to draw from.
Ellie and Abby’s stories have a lot of ground to cover, both in the past and the present, and there are plenty of other characters with interesting stories to tell. The Last of Us TV show could expand on Tommy’s vengeful rampage through Seattle, Isaac’s rise to power as the leader of the W.L.F., or even the unseen stories of Boris Legasov and the Seraphite prophet. It could depict Jesse’s solo journey to Seattle or Ellie, Dina, and Tommy’s return journey to Jackson. The Last of Us has plenty of places to go in seasons 2, 3, and 4.
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