The Last Of Us will last at least four seasons, showrunner teases

Hold in there The Last of Us fans. We’re in the midst of a very small content drought but according to Craig Mazin, co-executive producer on HBO’s TV adaptation, we need not worry. The show is due to last for at least four seasons.

HBO’s The Last of Us was hailed as the greatest video game adaptation of all-time earlier this year - and I really can’t argue with that. It was epic - entrancing fans both old and new. It’s easy to see why Naughty Dog released the remade The Last of Us Part I last year, seeing how many people have now flocked to experience the game because of the show. It’s a shame this year’s PC port was released in such an abysmal state. The rumour mill claims that a re-released version of Part II is on the way. It would be nice to see a native PS5 version, perhaps with even added DLC. If you’re wondering why we’ve heard no updates on season two of the HBO show, it’s due to the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, but Mazin has teased a few tidbits to keep us occupied.

We’re still awaiting news on Naughty Dog’s next release. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 swings onto PS5 consoles on 20 October though.

Both Mazin and Neil Druckmann have always been adamant that the HBO series won’t extend beyond the games, as Game of Thrones did with the books. Saying that though, there are only two games to adapt: Part I and Part II. Part III is assumedly in development but it’s by no means confirmed. As such fans are wondering just how many seasons Part II can be stretched out into. Sure, it’s a much longer game, but it’s also set over a shorter time period, so I’m interested to see what happens. Thankfully, Mazin has provided some clarity.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Mazin explained, “[The show] can end up being three or five [seasons]. But four seems like a good number. Some seasons, because of the story we're telling, will need fewer episodes and some will need more. The best news is the audience wants more. We will not indulge a desire for more simply to make them happier when they hear how many episodes are announced. And if they don't like how many episodes are in a season because they want more, well, OK.”

“But when all is said and done, I think the wisdom of how we lay it out will hopefully be clear. I don't know if any season will actually have the same amount of episodes. But, whatever, the number's not important. What's important is when they get to the end of the season, they're like, 'That was a good season.'" So the good news is that we’re getting at least four seasons. The bad news is that it sounds like at least one of those seasons is due to be pretty short.

It makes sense to cover the entirety of the events in Seattle in one season, surely? Could the farmhouse and Santa Barbara portions be their own mini season? Is that enough to fill a season? I have so many questions, but in Mazin and Druckmann we trust.