Neil Druckmann on Extending 'The Last of Us' TV Show Beyond Games

Amid uncertainties surrounding the future of *The Last of Us* video game series, fans are eager to know where the narrative might head next, especially after HBO's series covers the events of the second game in Seasons 2 and 3. Earlier this month, Neil Druckmann, the series' creator, hinted at the possibility that *The Last of Us 3* 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."

However, if *The Last of Us 3* doesn't come to fruition, would Naughty Dog and Druckmann continue the TV series beyond the games? This was the burning question IGN posed to Druckmann on the red carpet before the premiere of *The Last of Us* Season 2. He responded by affirming that, while he has an ending for *The Last of Us* story in mind, due to uncertainties about making *The Last of Us 3*, he's ensuring nothing is left unresolved.

"I have to have an ending," Druckmann emphasized. "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 didn’t know if we’d ever get to do it again. I need it to be a definitive ending. *Last of Us 2*, same way. All these things have to line up.

"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 line.

"Right now, it’s like, we have an ending in mind. And that ending will be it. That ending will be it for this story."

A pressing concern for Druckmann is whether he would have the time to develop *The Last of Us 3*, even if it were to be approved. His schedule is packed with overseeing the *The Last of Us* TV series, which will adapt 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, we have to finish this season," Druckmann added. "We’re not quite done. We’re almost there. Knock on wood we get to do it again. Season 3, there’s a lot more story we have to cover, as you know with game two.

"And then my hands are pretty full with *Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet*."

The Last of Us Season 2 Character Posters

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In February 2024, Druckmann teased 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 clean concept of like, the unconditional love a parent feels for their child," he explained. "The second one, once we landed on this idea of the pursuit of justice at any cost, justice for the ones you love, we felt like, 'there's a clean concept here and there's a throughline from the first game, about love.' If we never get to do it again, this is a fine ending point. Last bite of the apple, the story's done."

"The great thing about working at Naughty Dog is that we don't have to," he continued. "It's always like, 'we would love another *Last of Us*, but if you guys feel you're passionate about something else, we'll support this other thing.' Very privileged position to be in, I never take that for granted. I've been just thinking about it, 'is there a concept there?' And for now years, I haven't been able to find that concept. But recently, that's changed, and I don't have a story, but I do have that concept that to me is as exciting as 1, as exciting as 2, 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."