Neil Druckmann is leaving “The Last of Us.”
Druckmann, the co-creator of the hit HBO collection and author of the sport on which it’s based mostly, introduced Wednesday that he could be stepping away from the present forward of its third season. Season 2 of “The Last of Us” concluded in Could.
“I’ve made the difficult decision to step away from my creative involvement in The Last of Us on HBO,” Druckmann stated in an announcement posted on Naughty Canine’s Instagram account. “With work completed on season 2 and before any meaningful work starts on season 3, now is the right time for me to transition my complete focus to Naughty Dog and its future projects, including writing and directing our exciting next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, along with my responsibilities as Studio Head and Head of Creative.
“Co-creating the show has been a career highlight,” the assertion continued. “It’s been an honor to work alongside Craig Mazin to executive produce, direct and write on the last two seasons. I’m deeply thankful for the thoughtful approach and dedication the talented cast and crew took to adapting The Last of Us Part I and the continued adaptation of The Last of Us Part II.”
Druckmann was a key artistic behind the acclaimed 2013 online game “The Last of Us.” The story of a person and a woman crossing a postapocalyptic panorama had been one thing on his thoughts for years earlier than he joined the online game studio Naughty Canine, which he now leads. Set in a world ravaged by a fungal pandemic that turns human hosts into zombie-like creatures, “The Last of Us” confirmed {that a} big-budget violent motion shooter might be a canvas for advanced themes and storylines.
The tv collection, which premiered in 2023, was co-created by Druckmann and Mazin, an Emmy Award winner for HBO’s restricted collection “Chernobyl.” Starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey as Joel and Ellie, respectively, the primary season was embraced by critics and audiences alike and went on to win eight Emmys (out of 24 complete nominations). The present’s second season, which adapts the story from the follow-up 2020 online game, “The Last of Us Part II,” aired earlier this 12 months. “The Last of Us” Season 3 will proceed the story from “Part II,” from the angle of Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby.
Naughty Canine’s subsequent recreation, “Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet,” in growth now for the PlayStation 5, will star Tati Gabrielle (who portrayed Nora in “The Last of Us” Season 2) as Jordan A. Mun, an interplanetary bounty hunter stranded on a mysterious distant planet. Most of its particulars — together with a launch date — have but to be revealed.
