by Thunderbolt for “The Last of Us”! Season 3 of the adapted series of the famous video game franchise will have to do without two major and historic writers for new episodes.
Event series of the year 2023 with millions of views on HBO and the Max platform in the world, The Last of Us, signed Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin, was a critical and public success.
This adaptation of the famous video game franchise of the same name has won the fans of video games as much as the neophytes. As a reminder, this post-apocalyptic fiction recounts the adventures of Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) in an America ravaged by an epidemic caused by the Cordycepts mushroom.
After the success of the first salvo of episodes, season 2 of The Last of Us, adapting part of the second video game The Last of Us: Part IIwas expected at the turn.
But these new episodes received received a mixed reception on certain points. Will the third season already ordered by HBO convince the whole audience?
Coshowunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann were rather confident a few weeks ago, but a big change just announced could upset the rest of The Last of Us.
Neil Druckmann leaves the series “The Last of Us”!
Neil Druckmann has just announced that he was leaving the ship via His Instagram account As well as the Naughty Dog Instagram account, the company causing video games The Last of Usof which he is a part.
“I made the difficult decision to withdraw from the creation of The Last of Us on HBO. Now that I finished season 2 and before starting season 3 seriously, the time has come for me to focus entirely on Naughty Dog and its future projects, including writing and carrying out our next exciting game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Profit, as well as my responsibilities as a studio director and creative director.
Creating this series was a highlight of my career. It was an honor to collaborate with Craig Mazin for executive production, the realization and writing of the last two seasons. I am deeply grateful to the talented actors and the technical team for their thoughtful approach and their dedication when the Last of Us is adaptation and the continuation of The Last of Us Part II. “
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Even if he keeps the titles of co -creator and executive producer, Neil Druckmann will not write nor make any episode of season 3 of The Last of Us. Fans' reactions are shared on this new major. We can read comments like “Nooon, you have made the best episodes” Or “Yes, focus on your games”.
The departure of Neil Druckmann is also accompanied by that of Halley Gross, who has already worked on Westworld and co-written the video game The Last of Us Part II Alongside Druckmann.
Having other projects to come, she confirmed that she would not take part in writing season 3 of the series in a press release:
“With great care and consideration, I decided to take a step back from my daily work on The Last of Us for HBO in order to leave the way. I am so grateful for this special experience. Working alongside Neil, Craig, HBO and this team and these remarkable actors changed my life. The stories that we have told – on love, loss and what it means to be human in a terrifying world. for which I like this franchise. “
A good or bad news for season 3 of “The Last of Us”?
This means that Craig Mazin now finds himself alone in charge of season 3 of The Last of Us for the writing of the episodes, which will be centered on Abby (Kaitlyn Dever).
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Unless he calls on writers in reinforcement to support him in the third season. One of the forces in the series The Last of Us, which made it one of the best video game adaptations, was that the creator and the screenwriters of the video game work were very involved.
Will their absence have a huge impact on the content of future episodes? Maybe not. After all, the series adaptation remains the vast majority very faithful to video games and season 3 was surely thought of when season 2 was written since the two intrigues (Ellie and Abby) are built in parallel and take place at the same time to meet at the end.
Neil Druckmann's work and Halley Gross – in games as in the series – will continue to be a major source for Craig Mazin, who brought freedom and welcome changes, despite criticism. Because an adaptation that looks like copy/paste has no interest.
The latter said in a press release all his support and admiration for Neil Druckmann and Halley Gross and he promises to do everything to offer a high quality season 3:
“Working with Neil and giving life to an adaptation of his masterful work on HBO was a creative dream. I could not have dreamed of a more generous creative partner. As a real fan of Naughty Dog and Neil's work in video games, I am more than forum to play his next game.
While he focuses on this project, I will continue to work with our brilliant team and our actors to offer the series our audience is waiting for. We are extremely grateful to Neil and Halley Gross to have entrusted us with the incredible story of The Last of Us Part II, and we are just as grateful to the millions of viewers around the world. “
The two seasons of “The Last of Us” are available on the Max platform.
