As is the case with so many adaptations, the question of whether it will outpace or tell a story outside its original iteration is now being asked ofThe Last of Uscreators, too. Neil Druckmann (head of the video game studio Naughty Dog and mastermind of the game) remained coy in his response whenIGNrecently asked him that very question. And now, it seems, the same is being asked of the HBO series' showrunner,Craig Mazin, too.
In a new interview withComicBook.com, the creator was asked point-blank if the TV series would continue its story past the second game, and his response was far more definitive about what his role would be in such an endeavor. In short? He’s sticking with what they have and stepping aside if more of the show — beyond their as-now-planned, four-season-arc — is ordered by HBO.
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Per Mazin/ComicBook.com:
“Is there more ‘Last of Us’? That primarily will sit with Neil [Druckmann] and Naughty Dog, and that’s their choice. If there are more stories to tell, I would love to be like a friend to the production. Happy to do whatever the easiest thing is, but to be the writer and director and a showrunner and all that, I think this one’s gonna be the one for me.”
TheChernobylcreator went on to clarify his thoughts, explaining that his “intention is to see this through to the end of the story as it currently exists. The source material that’s there, if we get the opportunity to do so, and I hope we do. And then, I’m going to be very excited to find whatever the next thing is. I’m committed to telling this story because I love it.”
But how does this square with Druckmann’s recent comments? Particularly in juxtaposition to what he said at the end ofGrounded II: Making The Last of Us Part II? Well, keep reading to find out more.
Neil Druckmann Doesn’t Seem To Take ‘The Last Of Us’ For Granted
Druckmann seems to want to keep fans' expectations low, but also can’t help himself when it comes to teasing the story’s future, be it in video game or television form. InGrounded II, the documentary Naughty Dog made about the making ofThe Last of Us Part II, Druckmann ruminates idly on the idea before ultimately landing on the thought that “there’s probably one more chapter to this story.” This comes after admitting that, for “years, I haven’t been able to find that concept. But recently, that’s changed, and I don’t have a story, but I do have that concept that, to me, is as exciting as 1, as exciting as 2, is its own thing, and yet has this throughline for all three.”
Expanding upon that in recent interviews, Druckmann has said that the television show may be the last that we get of the story at all,telling IGN, “I guess the only thing I would say is don’t bet on there being more of ‘Last of Us.’ This could be it.”
The conversation continued, with Druckmann adding:
“I have to have an ending. When I madeThe Last of Us 1, I didn’t know if there was going to be a sequel, so that had to be a definitive ending. When I worked onUncharted 4, I don’t know if we’ll ever get to do it again. I need it to be a definitive ending.Last of Us 2, same way. All these things have to line up. I don’t know how long I’ll keep doing this or whether I’ll be given another opportunity. So I leave nothing on the line. Right now it’s like, we have an ending in mind. And that ending will be it. That ending will be it for this story.”
So what does it all mean? Well, that’s sort of up for interpretation, now, isn’t it? Druckmann has an ending in mind, and he wants to do a third installment, but he’s also really busy and recognizes the television iteration may be the last word onThe Last of Usworld. And we won’t know how different the show’s ending will be from what fans of the video game got until it has aired. But either way, we know that if it lasts past these initially envisioned four seasons? Craig Mazin will not be running the show. But as we also know, this show is not afraid of changing anddeviating from the original script(so to speak).
ComicBook.com
The Last Of Us
