Neil Druckmann on Continuing The Last of Us TV Series Beyond the Games

Amid uncertainties about the future of The Last of Us video game series, fans are eager to know where the narrative might head following the coverage of the second game in HBO's Season 2 and 3. Earlier this month, Neil Druckmann, the series creator, hinted that a third installment might not materialize, stating, "I guess the only thing I would say is don’t bet on there being more of ‘Last of Us.’ This could be it."

This raises the question: if there's no The Last of Us 3, will Naughty Dog and Druckmann continue the TV show beyond the existing games? During an interview with IGN at the red carpet event for The Last of Us Season 2 premiere, Druckmann addressed this. He emphasized the importance of having a definitive ending for the story, regardless of whether he gets to create The Last of Us 3.

“I have to have an ending,” Druckmann stated. “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 wasn’t sure if we’d ever get to do it again. I needed it to be a definitive ending. The Last of Us 2 was the same. All these things have to align.

“I don’t know how long I’ll keep doing this or whether I’ll be given another opportunity. So I leave nothing on the table.

“Right now, we have an ending in mind. And that ending will be it. That ending will conclude this story.”

Druckmann's potential involvement in The Last of Us 3 is uncertain due to his commitments to the TV series, which will cover the events of The Last of Us 2 over Seasons 2 and 3, and the newly announced PlayStation game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

“As far as everything else, and you’re asking me about future games, my time is so much occupied, we have to finish this season,” Druckmann continued. “We’re not quite done yet. We’re almost there. Hopefully, we’ll get to do Season 3, as there’s a lot more story to cover from game two.

“And then my hands are pretty full with Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.”

The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters

3 ImagesIn February 2024, Druckmann hinted at a "concept" for a potential The Last of Us 3 at the end of Grounded 2: Making The Last of Us Part 2, suggesting that there might be "probably one more chapter to this story."

"The first game had such a clear concept of the unconditional love a parent feels for their child," he explained. "The second game focused on the pursuit of justice at any cost, justice for the ones you love, which provided a clear concept and a throughline from the first game about love. If we never get to do it again, this is a fine ending point. The last bite of the apple, the story's done."

"The great thing about working at Naughty Dog is that we don't have to do it," he added. "It's always like, 'we would love another Last of Us, but if you guys feel passionate about something else, we'll support this other thing.' It's a very privileged position to be in, and I never take that for granted. I've been thinking about it, 'is there a concept there?' And for years, I haven't been able to find that concept. But recently, that's changed, and I don't have a story yet, but I do have that concept that to me is as exciting as the first two games, is its own thing, and yet has this throughline for all three. So it does feel like there's probably one more chapter to this story."