MOVIE NEWS – He didn’t spell it out, but The Last of Us producer Craig Mazin just made comments that strongly suggest the series may not reach a fourth season. Instead, he confirmed that Season 3 will be longer than Season 2 – perhaps to make room for the entirety of the game’s story?

One of the big questions surrounding HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us is whether the show will conclude with three seasons or stretch to a fourth, as Craig Mazin once suggested. But based on his latest remarks, it seems the series may not run that long, instead wrapping things up with a single, extended third season. Or maybe not. Interpretations vary.

“We’re still tinkering with it… it’s kind of a trade secret for now,” Mazin told The Hollywood Reporter when asked about the structure and episode count of Season 3. “But what I can say is that Season 3 will be longer than Season 2. It’ll feel more like the first season, offering more for viewers to sink their teeth into.” Beyond that, he kept quiet, though he did touch on other aspects of the production.

For context, Season 2 had only seven episodes, compared to nine in the first season, and ended on a dramatic fade to black (at least for those who hadn’t played the game) as Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Abby (Kaitlyn Denver) met in Seattle. From there, just as in Naughty Dog’s source material, the show teed up the arc of Season 3: Abby’s story. The obvious question: do we really need an entire season to cover ground that begins where Season 2 left off?

Spoiler warning: If you haven’t finished The Last of Us Part II, you may want to stop here.

The logical conclusion many fans have drawn is that a longer third season would be best – one that spans Abby’s full path to redemption and her search for a new purpose in helping young Lev, a Seraphite child, find safety. That arc would then culminate in her fateful clash with Ellie and Ellie’s heart-wrenching return to her farm.

The Missed Opportunity of Season 2

The chance to stretch Part II across three seasons likely disappeared the moment the producers chose not to dedicate Season 2 exclusively to the game’s opening act. A deeper dive into Jackson, its residents, and their stories could have provided a powerful season ending with the infected’s assault on the city and Abby’s shocking murder of Joel as Ellie watched helplessly.

That cliffhanger would have set up a perfect third season focused on Ellie and Abby’s journey through Seattle, with all its layers. Then, a fourth season could have wrapped things up with the story’s epilogue. But since that opportunity has passed, simply extending Season 3 may not be the ideal solution. As always, though, the decision lies with Mazin and HBO, who still appear undecided.

For now, there’s no official confirmation either way. What is certain is that Season 3 will move forward without Neil Druckmann, the game’s creator, though Mazin insists “everything will continue pretty much as usual” as he finishes writing episodes. No start date for filming or release window has been announced.

Source: 3djuegos