HBO’s The Last of Us May Expand to Four Seasons to Fully Capture Part II’s Happy Events, Though Plans Are Still Evolving

As HBO’s The Last of Us gears up for its second season, which is set to hit screens in April, fans should brace themselves for a rollercoaster of emotions. Those familiar with The Last of Us: Part II video game are well aware of its intense narrative filled with unexpected twists and emotional sucker punches. So it doesn’t come as a shock that the plan is to unfold the storyline over at least two more seasons after this one.

The sequel game, released in 2020, expanded the post-apocalyptic universe significantly, and the upcoming season of the TV show seems poised to follow the same trajectory. After the first season’s faithful adaptation, coupled with some smart changes, both casual viewers and die-hard fans of the franchise felt the payoff.

In a statement (as reported by Deadline), Francesca Orci, the current drama chief at HBO, mentioned, “We don’t have a complete or final plan, but I think it’s looking like four seasons. I wouldn’t want to confirm that, but it’s looking like this season and then two more seasons after this and we’re done.”

Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann of Naughty Dog, who co-created and oversee the HBO series, hinted at this direction last year. Mazin elaborated, “We don’t think that we’re going to be able to tell the story even within two seasons [2 and 3] because we’re taking our time and going down interesting pathways, which we did a little bit in Season 1 too.”

Fans of the games know well how the intricate world of The Last of Us expands with new factions and characters. Although we might not see all of them in this upcoming season, Orci emphasized the allure of these developing storylines: “There are certain elements concerning the various factions competing for survival that reveal intriguing qualities. These survivalist groups stand out with a unique vibe.”

We’re still waiting on an official release date for The Last of Us season 2, but the reveal of a full trailer could happen any day. Ideally, it will offer more plot details and insight into new character dynamics, all while teasing the fresh threats for those tuning in without prior knowledge.

As for the broader TLOU franchise, more seasons of HBO’s acclaimed series might be the only major addition this decade. Naughty Dog’s ambitious multiplayer project was shelved in late 2023, and the team behind Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet has its hands full for the foreseeable future.