Remember last June when The Last Of Us showrunner Craig Mazin said that the trade-off for a shorter Season 2 would be the increased likelihood of more seasons of HBO's post-apocalyptic show down the line? Well it looks like that two episode sacrifice has paid off and then some for Mazin, co-showrunner Neil Druckmann, and co, as HBO has confirmed today that The Last Of Us Season 3 is officially happening — an almighty show of confidence from the TV juggernaut ahead of the show's Season 2 premiere this weekend.
Per Deadline's reporting, it's currently unknown whether Season 3 would be a third and final run for Mazin and Druckmann's show, which — in case you somehow didn't already know — follows Pedro Pascal's Joel and Bella Ramsey's Ellie as they navigate a post-apocalyptic American wasteland in the aftermath of a deadly virus outbreak that's turning humanity into zombie-like fungal monsters. What we do know however is that early critical reaction to Season 2, including our own five-star review, has been incredibly positive, with the series' continued commitment to exploring both the horror and beauty of nature and humanity expanding the original Naughty Dog games' world in new and ever edifying ways. And don't just take our word for it, either — Pedro Pascal himself praised the new series to Empire when we spoke not too long ago, paying tribute to a "bigger, far more ambitious, far more risk-taking" Season 2 that lies ahead.
"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,” said Druckmann in a statement accompanying the show's renewal. “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!” Adds Mazin: "We approached season two with the goal of creating something we could be proud of. The end results have exceeded even our most ambitious goals, thanks to our continued collaboration with HBO and the impeccable work of our unparalleled cast and crew. We look forward to continuing the story of The Last Of Us with season three!”
With Season 2 of The Last Of Us set to launch on Sky in the UK in the wee small hours of 14 April, we've not got long to wait until our favourite horrifying — and horrifyingly emotional — daddy-daughter apocalypse tale returns. But until then, remember this: when you're lost in the darkness, look for the light... and the tissues, because you're gonna need 'em folks. You're gonna need 'em.