The Last of Us season 2 is now only days away from premiering on HBO, with early reviews praising the show's seven new episodes.

With the April 13 season 2 premiere now only days away, HBO reveals that The Last of Us will return for season 3. There's no word yet, however, on how many episodes the new season will consist of or when it may release. sca Orsi, Executive Vice President, HBO Programming, Head of HBO Drama Series and Films, shared the following statement about the renewal, praising the acclaimed series' sophomore outing:

“It can’t be overemphasized how proud HBO is for the outstanding achievement we believe the second season of THE LAST OF US is. Craig, Neil, Carolyn and the entire executive producer team, cast and crew have delivered a masterful follow-up and we’re thrilled to carry the power of Craig and Neil’s storytelling into what we know will be an equally moving and extraordinary third season.”

Co-creator Craig Mazin shared his comment on the renewal, expressing thanks to HBO and excitement about continuing the series:

“We approached season two with the goal of creating something we could be proud of. The end results have exceeded even our most ambitious goals, thanks to our continued collaboration with HBO and the impeccable work of our unparalleled cast and crew. We look forward to continuing the story of THE LAST OF US with season three!”

Finally, co-creator Neil Druckmann addressed The Last of Us season 3 as well, thanking Mazin and the fans for ing the show:

“To see The Last of Us brought to life so beautifully and faithfully has been a career highlight for me, and I am grateful for the fans' enthusiastic and overwhelming . Much of that success is thanks to my partner in crime, Craig Mazin, our partnership with HBO, and our team at PlayStation Productions. On behalf of everyone at Naughty Dog, our cast, and crew, thank you so much for allowing us this opportunity. We're thrilled to bring you more of THE LAST OF US!”

What This Means For The Last Of Us

The HBO Show's Future Explained

The acclaimed The Last of Us season 1 adapts the entirety of Naughty Dog's debut video game in the series, with Joel and Ellie ending the season in essentially the same place as their game counterparts. Naughty Dog's sequel game, The Last of Us Part II, serves as the basis for season 2 of the HBO show, but the sophomore outing adapts only a portion of this story. Both Mazin and Druckmann have been open about the fact that telling the story of the sequel video game will take multiple seasons.

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It's notable that the season 3 renewal does not feature a confirmation that it will be the last season. In a recent interview with EW, Mazin says of the show's future: "I think it's pretty likely that our story will extend past a season 3," though he also reveals that he's not entirely sure how many seasons there will be. With The Last of Us season 2 reviews already earning the sophomore outing a glowing 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, the new episodes are poised to continue the show's viewership success, suggesting a promising future beyond the announced season 3.

One thing that has been made clear, however, is that Mazin and Druckmann, the latter of whom also wrote the video game source material, will not be taking the show beyond the events of The Last of Us Part II. "I am not going to go past the game," Mazin told The Hollywood Reporter, "I’ll just say that flat out."

Druckmann recently addressed the chances of a The Last of Us Part III game, telling Variety that it may not happen: "I guess the only thing I would say is don’t bet on there being more of [The] Last of Us. This could be it."

Our Take On The Last Of Us Season 3

Why Future Seasons Could Be Controversial

Dina and Joel sit atop their horses on a patrol in The Last of Us season 2

The response to HBO's The Last of Us has been stellar so far, making it no surprise that another season has been given the green light. Clearly, this is a show that is resonating with critics and general audiences. The Last of Us' cast is one reason for this, but the writing, production design, and action are also top-notch. If it follows the same pattern as season 2, however, season 3 may not arrive until 2027, which would mean another long wait for viewers.

With Mazin and Druckmann at the helm, The Last of Us season 3 is sure to feature all the best parts of the show once more. The sequel video game does feature some divisive storytelling decisions and characters, however, meaning that seasons 2, 3, and beyond could end up being more divisive than the debut installment, at least with general audiences. While many questions remain about the story to come in The Last of Us season 3, fans can, at the very least, rest assured that more episodes are on the way.

The Last of Us season 2 premieres on Sunday, April 13 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO.

Source: HBO

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The Last Of Us
Release Date
January 15, 2023
Network
HBO
Showrunner
Craig Mazin

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming

The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic drama series set two decades after a global catastrophe. It follows Joel, a seasoned survivor, who is tasked with escorting Ellie, a teenage girl, across a desolated United States, transforming into a harrowing journey of survival and companionship.

Directors
Craig Mazin, Peter Hoar, Jeremy Webb, Ali Abbasi, Mark Mylod, Stephen Williams, Jasmila Žbanić, Liza Johnson, Nina Lopez-Corrado
Writers
Neil Druckmann, Craig Mazin
Franchise(s)
The Last of Us
Main Genre
Horror
Creator(s)
Craig Mazin, Neil Druckmann
Producers
Carter Swan, Carolyn Strauss, Evan Wells, Asad Qizilbash, Greg Spence, Rose Lam, Jacqueline Lesko
Seasons
2
Story By
Neil Druckmann, Bruce Straley
Streaming Service(s)
MAX