The penultimate episode of The Last of Us Season 2 just aired, and fans are buzzing over the pacing and the future. Unlike the first season, which adapted the entire first game into nine episodes, creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann are now spreading the sequel’s sprawling story across multiple seasons. And yes – more seasons beyond Season 3 are officially in the works.

In an interview with Collider, Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann opened up about how much of Ellie’s revenge arc remains to be told, especially following Abby’s shocking decision to kill Joel at the start of the season. With just one episode left in Season 2, the show has covered less than half of the second game. The shorter episode count partly explains this, but Mazin suggested Season 3 will be longer – and confirmed that plans are already in motion for a fourth season:

“I think there’s a decent chance that Season 3 will be longer than Season 2, just because the nature of the narrative and the opportunities it gives us are different. Joel’s death is a huge moment – a narrative nuclear bomb – and it doesn’t leave room to detour. We couldn’t suddenly veer off and do another Bill and Frank-type story. But I think we’ll have more breathing room in Season 3. What’s certain is we can’t finish this arc in three seasons. Hopefully, we’ll do well enough to return and conclude it in a fourth. That’s the most likely outcome.”

The Last of Us Still Has Major Stories to Tell

Anyone who’s played The Last of Us Part II knows that there’s an entire subplot in Seattle that the show has yet to explore. In Season 2, we’re locked into Ellie’s perspective – and she’s still unaware of the conflict brewing between the Washington Liberation Front and the Seraphites. There’s a wealth of story that’s being held back for now, and according to Mazin, that’s all part of the long game:

“We always plan ahead. We’ve thought through Season 3 and Season 4 to get a full sense of the story’s shape. The big challenge for Season 1 was telling a complete story that fit the time and the budget. But with Season 2, it was clear: this source material can’t be told in just one season.”

Whether or not HBO officially greenlights Season 4 remains to be seen, but many fans assumed that the early Season 3 renewal was a sign the story would wrap up there. Given that Mazin and Druckmann have said they don’t want to go beyond the games’ narrative, it’s clear the adaptation is staying true to the source. And judging by the creators’ confidence, The Last of Us isn’t slowing down any time soon.

Source: MovieWeb