A major creative shift is underway on HBO’s The Last of Us as the show prepares for its third season. Co-creator Neil Druckmann, who co-created and directed the Naughty Dog video games for Sony PlayStation, is stepping down, marking a significant change for the series.
According to sources, he will be taking a step back creatively from the HBO series ahead of season 3, having been heavily involved in the first two seasons of the TV adaptation.
He will not be involved in writing or directing any episodes for season 3. However, he will continue to serve as a co-creator and executive producer, maintaining an oversight role in the series.
Neil Druckmann said in a statement:
“I’ve made the difficult decision to step away from my creative involvement in The Last of Us on HBO. With 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, including writing and directing our exciting next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, along with my responsibilities as Studio Head and Head of Creative, Co-creating the show has been a career highlight. It’s been an honor to work alongside Craig Mazin to executive produce, direct, and write on the last two seasons. I’m deeply thankful for the thoughtful approach and dedication the talented cast and crew took to adapting The Last of Us Part I and their continued adaptation of The Last of Us Part II.”
As The Last of Us continues to captivate audiences, fans will be eager to see how the show evolves without Druckmann’s creative input. Meanwhile, the gaming community is excited about the new project.
Neil Druckmann is a powerful force both in the world of gaming and television, and his impact will be felt for years to come.
