HBO's The Last of Us just quietly teased a major departure for season 3

The Last of Us season two has officially wrapped up but with HBO already gearing up to start work on its third season, there is still plenty to look forward to when it comes to Ellie and Abby’s ongoing feud.

With The Last of Us finale airing on Sunday, fans finally got to see the cliffhanger that they would have to spend the next couple of years living with.

We saw the stand-off between Ellie and Abby in the theatre before the well-known The Last of Us Part II time jump came into play, showing Abby three days previously in the stadium base.

It is now clear that season three will begin with us learning what Abby has been up to during Ellie’s first three days in Seattle; not only that, but season three will also give viewers the chance to learn more about Abby’s WLF comrades.

One such comrade is Mel who game fans will know as Owen’s girlfriend who is pregnant with his child throughout the events of The Last of Us Part II.

With Owen being Abby’s ex-boyfriend, it would make sense why there is ongoing tension between Abby and Mel.

However, it seems as though things will play out a bit differently in the HBO television adaptation.

According to a recent interview with Mel’s actor Ariela Barer, she revealed that Owen may not be the father of Mel’s baby in the TV show.

In the interview with Esquire, Barer was asked the following: “In the video game, Owen is the father of Mel's baby. But in the series it's ambiguous. Who is the father?”

To which she replied, “So glad you asked that, because I wasn't sure if that came across. I am not supposed to talk about it. [Laughs.] That's a Craig [Mazin] question. That's a question I've asked Craig many times.”

Although this does not definitely confirm that Owen is or is not the father, even the possibility of it not being true is a major departure from The Last of Us Part II and raises the question as to whom it may actually be.

Of course, if Owen isn't the father, it opens up questions surrounding what it is that now causes Mel and Abby's divide.

It seems we will find out in season three so hopefully the long wait will be worth it.