Summary
Of all the video game adaptations in recent years, one that has risen to the top is HBO’sThe Last of UsTV series. While the show is yet to release its second season, the executives at HBO are already looking ahead to the endgame of the show.
The Last of Usstars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey as Joel and Ellie, the beloved characters from Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic video game series. While Season 1 of the HBO series covered the entirety of the firstThe Last of Usgame, Season 2 will begin to tackle the much larger story in the second game.The Last of Us Part 2was much more ambitious in its storytelling, introducing a five-year time jump, multiple new characters and locations, and switching the perspective of the player. To cover the same area in the TV show adaptation it’s expectedThe Last of Uswill require more than one season.
The Last of Us Potential Season Count Revealed
Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann previously hinted thatThe Last of Usmay require a third or fourth seasonto cover the story of the second game. That suggestion is progressively becoming more likely as HBO executive Francesca Orsi revealed toDeadlineat the afterparty forThe White Lotusthis week. The executive saidThe Last of Usis shaping up to last four seasons, but didn’t want to commit too definitively to that number. “I think it’s looking like four seasons. I wouldn’t want to confirm that, but it’s looking like this season and then two more seasons after this and we’re done,”she said.
We don’t have a complete or final plan, but I think it’s looking like four seasons. I wouldn’t want to confirm that, but it’s looking like this season and then two more seasons after this and we’re done.
HBO is yet to officially renewThe Last of Usfor any seasons beyond the second, but given these comments, it seems Season 3 is all but confirmed. Mazin and Druckmann said they had no intentions to tell any story beyond the games, so when the series reaches the end ofThe Last of Us Part 2’sstory it will come to an end (unlessNaughty Dog decides to make a thirdThe Last of Usgame).
As mentioned,The Last of Us Part 2is a much larger game than the first, but exactly how far through its story Season 2 will get remains a mystery. The second game also has a moreconvoluted timeline structure, which could change how the story is adapted for television. Trailers forThe Last of UsSeason 2 have hinted the series will cover the Jackson prologue and at least a portion of Ellie’s story in Seattle, but whether the TV show will also cover Abby’s portions of the story remains to be seen. Once Season 2’s structure is revealed, it will make it easier to estimate how much content is left to cover in the third and fourth seasons.
Another thing to note is thatThe Last of UsSeason 2 will be shorter than Season 1, comprising only seven episodes. With a shorter episode count, that makes two more seasons ofThe Last of Usmore viable. The showrunners also hinted they wouldinclude content that was cut from the gamein the new seasons, which could help to pad out the plot of the series.
The Last of UsSeason 2 will be released on HBO in April.
