Ahead of the highly anticipated premiere of its second season on April 13, HBO has announced it has renewed The Last of Us for a third season. The renewal demonstrates HBO’s belief in the acclaimed series’ success, but it is not surprising, considering how well the first season performed.
Last year, in an interview with Deadline, show co-creator Craig Mazin told Deadline it could take up to four seasons to finish the story he is trying to tell with co-creator Neil Druckmann. Season 2 has been confirmed to have seven episodes, and the duo are not in a hurry to wrap up the story quickly.
“It can’t be overemphasized how proud HBO is for the outstanding achievement we believe the second season of THE LAST OF US is,” Francesca Orsi, Executive Vice President, HBO Programming, Head of HBO Drama Series and Films, said in a statement. “Craig, Neil, Carolyn and the entire executive producer team, cast and crew have delivered a masterful follow-up and we’re thrilled to carry the power of Craig and Neil’s storytelling into what we know will be an equally moving and extraordinary third season.”
“To see The Last of Us brought to life so beautifully and faithfully has been a career highlight for me, and I am grateful for the fans’ enthusiastic and overwhelming support,” co-creator and Naughty Dog’s Druckmann said in a statement Wednesday. “Much of that success is thanks to my partner in crime, Craig Mazin, our partnership with HBO, and our team at PlayStation Productions. On behalf of everyone at Naughty Dog, our cast, and crew, thank you so much for allowing us this opportunity. We’re thrilled to bring you more of The Last of Us!”
Based on Naughty Dog’s critically acclaimed video game, season 2 of the show follows the The Last of Us Part II video game events. According to HBO, the logline for the second season reads: “Five years after the events of the first season, Joel and Ellie are drawn into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.”
The second season debuts on HBO and Max this Sunday, April 13, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Featured image: HBO
