It’s been more than three months since the season two finale of “The Last of Us,” and we still remember well the divisive impact it had on audiences.

Amid the storm of controversy sparked by various supporters and detractors—both those who welcomed the differences from the video game and those who, instead, hoped for a more faithful adaptation— the first rumors about “The Last of Us 3” began to circulate with some hesitation, immediately bringing about a series of unexpected shocks.

The ball started with the sensational news that Neil Druckmann, co-creator of the series, is stepping down as director and writer, with his involvement reduced to executive producer only . In this regard, the official statement released in July reads: “I have made the difficult decision to step away from my creative involvement with The Last of Us on HBO. With work completed on Season 2 and before any significant work on Season 3 begins, now is the right time for me to transition fully to Naughty Dog and its future projects, including writing and directing our next exciting game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Project, in addition to my responsibilities as Studio Head and Chief Creative Officer.”

Shortly after Druckmann's departure, co-writer Halley Gross also decided to step aside, expressing the need to pursue her own creative pursuits elsewhere : "I've carefully and thoughtfully decided to take a break from the day-to-day work on The Last of Us to make room for what's to come. I'm grateful for this unique experience. Collaborating with Neil, Craig, HBO, and this extraordinary cast has been life-changing."

Without two key figures like Druckmann and Gross, the future of “The Last of Us 3” already appears uncertain . Of particular concern are the many openings left open by the finale of the last episode, and the resulting doubts about how the plot will continue. Shortly after the media frenzy triggered by the shocking news, HBO CEO Casey Bloys hinted in an interview with Variety—on the occasion of “The Last of Us 2” receiving 17 Emmy nominations—at a possible release date for the next episodes, as well as clarifying how showrunner Craig Mazin intends to handle the changes that have occurred.

Bloys said: “(The Last of Us 3) is definitely planned for 2027.” Regarding the possibility of developing the story in one long season or two separate seasons, he added: “It hasn't been decided yet, I'm following Craig's lead on that.” Regarding Druckmann's retirement, he said: “Neil has a full-time job, creating video games and running Naughty Dog... But I think he's given us a good project with the series.” Confident about the show and the contribution of the entire creative staff, he concluded: “The title is obviously driven by the video game, and now the first two seasons are pretty established. When I think about the team at HBO and all the creatives who choose to work with us, I'm thrilled with the recognition they receive.”

Following HBO's official confirmation that Craig Mazin will be taking over development of the third season, the showrunner returned to discuss the project in his latest interview with The Hollywood Reporter. For Mazin, writing is always the "purest" moment, handled with an almost liturgical approach, regardless of the production dynamics that take over later. Without Druckmann at his side, the TV creator doesn't seem intimidated, stating that the team had already planned the show's future while working on the second season.

As for its ties to the original video game, the series will remain respectful, even if it decides to enrich it with new creative touches regarding the setting and characters. Among the most significant developments confirmed by Mazin is the announcement that the third season of "The Last of Us" will be "more similar to the first," especially in terms of length and narrative structure. The goal remains to up the ante on an emotional and spectacular level, with the aim of offering "more value to the audience."

Giovanni Scanu

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