Neil Druckmann, the co-creator of The Last of Us, recently announced that he is leaving the series before any work on Season 3 starts. In his message through Naughty Dog, he revealed the reason behind his exit and what he would be working on next. Additionally, he also expressed gratitude for the opportunity and appreciated the cast and crew’s dedication to bringing life to these beloved adaptations. Here are details on Druckmann’s exit.
Here’s why Neil Druckmann is leaving The Last of Us before Season 3
Video Game developer, Naughty Dog, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a message delivered to their team this morning by Druckmann. The statement mentioned that he is quitting the project ahead of any creative work beginning on Season 3.
He said, “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.” Explaining the reason behind his departure and what’s next for him, he added, “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.”
Extending his appreciation for having received the opportunity to work on the series, he said, “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 of 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.”
A few days before the Season 2 premiere, HBO announced The Last of Us Season 3, without any official release date or plot details. However, it could be expected to drop sometime in 2027, given that the initial seasons took two years to make.
