Neil Druckmann: Naughty Dog still stewards The Last of Us as HBO show nears its end

Neil Druckmann has again distanced himself and Naughty Dog from the ongoing HBO adaptation of The Last of Us, while confirming that the studio has multiple projects tied to the franchise in development. In a new interview with The Washington Post, the co-creator stressed that the future of the series lies with the game developer, not the television production, even as the show’s third season moves toward wrapping up the story told across the two games.

Druckmann was explicit about his lack of involvement in the current season, stating that he “wasn’t involved in shaping this season’s creative direction, and Naughty Dog did not have a creative role” in it either. As a result, he said he “can’t personally speak to how production is progressing.” The comments follow his earlier announcement that he was stepping away from the show’s production, a decision that had already sparked speculation given the mixed reception to the second season compared with the first.

The second season of The Last of Us drew criticism from fans on several fronts. Many argued that the adaptation struggled to handle the source material as effectively as the first season had, with theories pointing to structural differences or the decision to keep the same cast despite the story’s time jump. A recurring complaint was that central characters Ellie and Abby came across as weaker than their video game counterparts, both in terms of physical presence – particularly Abby – and in the quality of their writing, with some saying they felt less serious than in the games.

Druckmann did not suggest that any behind-the-scenes conflict had occurred, but his repeated insistence that neither he nor Naughty Dog had a creative hand in the final season has fuelled speculation about possible disagreements, perhaps between him and showrunner Craig Mazin. The first season had shown a willingness to deviate from the games in certain areas, but it is thought that the second season’s changes may have gone further than Druckmann was comfortable with.

Despite the show’s future, Druckmann made clear that The Last of Us as a franchise is far from finished. “It’s important for us to note that as the creator of the games, Naughty Dog is still the steward of this IP and even though this might be the end of this adaptation, we’re not done with The Last of Us,” he said. He added that there are “a couple projects in the works” that he is eager to discuss “when the time is right,” though he gave no details about what those projects might be.

The nature of these projects remains unconfirmed. Druckmann’s comments do not indicate whether they are games, other media, or something else entirely, and no release dates or platforms have been announced. Some observers have speculated about the possibility of a revival of The Last of Us Online, the multiplayer project that was cancelled after years of development, though there is no evidence in the interview to suggest that is among the titles in question. Others have wondered about a spin-off or a direct sequel, but nothing has been confirmed.

What is clear from the interview is that Druckmann and Naughty Dog are positioning themselves as the keepers of the franchise’s future, separate from the HBO series. The third season of the show is still in production and is expected to conclude the narrative arc of the two games, telling the story from Abby’s perspective. Whether that season can win back fans who were disappointed with the second remains to be seen, but Druckmann’s comments suggest that his focus, and that of the studio, has already moved on to whatever comes next for The Last of Us outside of television.

The Last of Us first aired on HBO in January 2023, with Craig Mazin serving as showrunner and Druckmann co-writing several episodes. The show’s second season aired to a far cooler reception, and the third is now set to bring the adaptation to a close. For now, fans of the franchise will have to wait for Druckmann and Naughty Dog to reveal what those “couple projects” actually are.