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\n Related: <\/span>HBO\u2019s \u2018The Last of Us\u2019 Renewed for Season 3 Ahead of Season 2 Premiere<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tHBO has officially renewed The Last of Us for yet another season ahead of the show\u2019s highly-anticipated season 2 premiere. Multiple outlets confirmed the news on Wednesday, April 9, along with a statement from the show\u2019s cocreator Craig Mazin. \u201cWe approached season 2 with the goal of creating something we could be proud of,\u201d Mazin, [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The news into its return comes less than three weeks after The Last of Us<\/em> cocreator Neil Druckmann<\/strong> confirmed that he is stepping down<\/a> from the show ahead of its return to screens.<\/p>\nIn a statement shared through his video game company, Naughty Dog, on July 2, Druckmann, 46, detailed his plans. \u201cI\u2019ve made the difficult decision to step away from my creative involvement in The Last of Us<\/em> on HBO,\u201d the statement read. \u201cWith 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.\u201d (Naughty Dog developed the original Last of Us<\/em> video games.)<\/p>\n\n![\"GettyImages-2206759904-Pedro.jpg\"](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-2206759904-Pedro.jpg?w=1000&quality=78&strip=all\")
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\n Pedro Pascal<\/span> Matt Winkelmeyer\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIn Bloys\u2019 interview, the network executive praised Druckmann\u2019s contributions to the TV series, which attracted 16 Emmy nominations<\/a> when the 2025 list of nominees was announced on Tuesday, July 15.<\/p>\n\u201cIt was fantastic to have Neil involved. A lot of people don\u2019t realize that Neil has a full time job creating video games and running Naughty Dog. It\u2019s a really big job that he\u2019s got. So I understand why he needs to focus on that,\u201d Bloys told the outlet. \u201cBut I believe he\u2019s given us a good blueprint with the show. And obviously Craig is a pro, so I think we\u2019ll be in excellent shape. I\u2019m not worried at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Druckmann\u2019s departure from the series came as a surprise to fans who were told in April by Druckmann himself that he was on board with continuing with a third season.<\/p>\n
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In a statement shared through his video game company, Naughty Dog, on July 2, Druckmann, 46, detailed his plans. \u201cI\u2019ve made the difficult decision to step away from my creative involvement in The Last of Us<\/em> on HBO,\u201d the statement read. \u201cWith 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.\u201d (Naughty Dog developed the original Last of Us<\/em> video games.)<\/p>\n In Bloys\u2019 interview, the network executive praised Druckmann\u2019s contributions to the TV series, which attracted 16 Emmy nominations<\/a> when the 2025 list of nominees was announced on Tuesday, July 15.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was fantastic to have Neil involved. A lot of people don\u2019t realize that Neil has a full time job creating video games and running Naughty Dog. It\u2019s a really big job that he\u2019s got. So I understand why he needs to focus on that,\u201d Bloys told the outlet. \u201cBut I believe he\u2019s given us a good blueprint with the show. And obviously Craig is a pro, so I think we\u2019ll be in excellent shape. I\u2019m not worried at all.\u201d<\/p>\n Druckmann\u2019s departure from the series came as a surprise to fans who were told in April by Druckmann himself that he was on board with continuing with a third season.<\/p>\n<\/div>
\n Pedro Pascal<\/span> Matt Winkelmeyer\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n