Summary
- Season 2 of The Last of Us will adapt the polarizing Part II game, challenging fans with new perspectives.
- Show creators aim to avoid comfort food storytelling, pushing boundaries, defying expectations.
- The new season promises complex narratives, new characters, and a bold approach, debuting in April.
As anticipation builds for Season 2 of HBO’s critically acclaimed series The Last of Us, co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann sat down to discuss what fans can expect when the show returns on April 13. The first season of the post-apocalyptic drama, which premiered in January 2023, quickly became a cultural phenomenon, averaging nearly 32 million viewers in its first 90 days across all HBO platforms. The Last of Us also earned 24 Emmy nominations, including nods for Best Drama, Best Actor (Pedro Pascal as Joel), and Best Actress (Bella Ramsey as Ellie), with guest stars Nick Offerman and Storm Reid taking home wins.
Season 2 of The Last of Us is set to adapt The Last of Us Part II, the highly polarizing 2020 video game that pushed boundaries and challenged fans’ expectations. The sequel is known for its bold storytelling choices, including creating tension between beloved characters Joel and Ellie, introducing a new and controversial perspective through the character Abby (who will be played by Dopesick Emmy nominee Kaitlyn Dever), and exploring dark and complex themes. The game was widely celebrated as one of the best ever made, but it also sparked intense backlash from a portion of the fanbase.
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Adapting Part II‘s expansive and intricate narrative into a TV series posed unique challenges. The game’s storyline is almost twice as long as its predecessor, necessitating multiple seasons to do it justice. But these challenges only motivated Mazin more. “One of the notes that I resent the most is ‘We loved this thing, more of it, please!’” Mazin told Variety. “No. You love it because that’s the right amount of it. When you do more, what makes it special starts to dissipate. It becomes comfort food. And if there’s one thing about ‘The Last of Us,’ it is not comfortable.”
The Last of Us Creators Talk Season 2, Risks, and Pushing Boundaries
Druckmann, the original creator of the game series and co-showrunner, echoed this sentiment. “I hope this doesn’t sound arrogant, but I think you have to have a certain level of success to have the confidence to do what we’re doing, both in the game and in the show,” he shared. “Because on paper, it looks so risky. But this is where I love working with Craig, because he thinks like me. Sometimes, you have a feeling the story has to be this and only this, and you just have to commit.”
Mazin agreed, adding, “If there’s one thing that you and I share, we have no problem going all in. Sometimes you just move all your narrative chips into the middle and say, ‘F-ck it, we’re doing it.’” With new characters, complex narratives, and no fear of challenging the status quo, The Last of Us Season 2, set to debut in April, promises to continue the legacy of the game, pushing boundaries, defying expectations, and delivering an experience that is anything but comfortable.
The Last Of Us
- Release Date
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January 15, 2023
- Network
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HBO Max
- Showrunner
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Craig Mazin
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Bella Ramsey
Ellie Williams
Source: Variety