The Last of Us will soon return for its third season. However, fans wonder whether there's more after Season 3 since the upcoming run will cover the second video game and its series creator addressed its fate.
HBO's The Last of Us is the live-action adaptation of Naughty Dog's video game of the same name. It is created by Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin and stars Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey and Brendan Rozario. It premiered in January 2023 and the Season 2 is coming up next month. The second season will cover the second video game, so many are wondering whether the TV show will continue after that since there are only two games from the franchise. Druckmann acknowledged this and the uncertainty of The Last of Us 3.
When I made The Last of Us 1, I didn't know if there was going to be a sequel, so that had to be a definitive ending. When I worked on Uncharted 4, I don't know if we'll ever get to do it again. I need it to be a definitive ending. Last of Us 2, same way. All these things have to line up.
Druckmann wasn't sure how long he would continue what he was doing. He was also unsure if there would be an opportunity to do more. "So I leave nothing on the line," he added. "Right now it's like, we have an ending in mind. And that ending will be it. That ending will be it for this story." Considering his statement, it appears that even if Druckman ends the show, there's still a way to pick it up later because he said the ending was for that particular story.
The Last of Us 3 could mean the TV show will have more seasons. However, to fans dismay, there has been no update on whether a third game is in development. Druckmann was asked earlier this month about the game's future and his response wasn't promising. According to him, fans should not bet on it, even saying, "This could be it." If the game is ending, then there's nothing to explore for the TV show. However, if showrunners want to extend it, they can definitely do so. But it's hard to say how committed Druckmann is to the franchise since he couldn't even confirm another game.
The Last of Us Season 2 premieres on HBO and Max on April 13, 2025.