The Last of Us Part II will need more than one season on HBO, those responsible confirm; the first season did cover the entire first game.
The first season of The Last of Us is now complete , covering the entire first game plus its Left Behind expansion . However, the second season, which is already confirmed, will not cover all of The Last of Us Part 2 , something that showrunner Craig Mazin had already hinted at in the past, which gives rise to a third season -still without an official green light-.
In an interview to GQ , Mazin and the games’ creative director and writer Neil Druckmann confirm that the second season won’t be able to encompass the entire second game. “No. No way ,” Druckmann replies about adapting the entire sequel with the second season. “It’s more than one season.”
Those responsible for this series for HBO comment that they have agreed not to detail their plans but that “more than one” is something they can say. In this interview they talk -without going into spoilers- about the complexity of adapting the game’s narrative, its multiple perspectives and twists, which requires some changes -as we have seen with the first season-: “I think we know where we are going in this case. I’m not saying it sarcastically, I’m saying it optimistically. There will be some things that will be different and others identical [to the game] . Some will contribute and enrich, others will be changed. The objective is exactly the same as in the first season , deliver a series that makes fans happy.”
The team is prepared for controversy
Druckmann and Mazin admit that they won’t be able to please everyone, but with the first season they did manage to please many and that is the intention with the sequel. “I think the process will be easier [with season 2]. There’s more trust, better communication, I know I’m working with a friend , and even if there are some differences, they’re always superficial. I’ve been in a lot of situations [before] where that a discrepancy with someone seemed life or death. Here the process is pleasant”.
Of course, both of them know that the reactions with the second game can be repeated with the series, but they are not too worried. Druckmann quotes a line from director Todd Phillips ( Joker ) “which is like… I don’t care. His reaction is his reaction, it’s out of our control . How do we make the best TV version of that story? That’s the problem we are facing.” Mazin responds about stories that “push people into rage, confusion, disappointment, or anger” that is ” preferable to the worst possible outcome, indifference.”
“A lot has been written about the third episode of the first season, and it’s one we’re very proud of, it’s moved a lot of people. It’s one of the lowest rated [for downvotes] on IMDb for a reason: a lot of people love it . ” He has given 1/10. Not 5/10. One out of ten”, recalls Mazin. Despite this, the average is 8.0 and it has been the most voted of the season, by 208,976 users. “I prefer a series with notes of 10 and 1 than one that moves on the 5”.
