“The Last of Us” creator Neil Druckmann explains what led to his exit from the hugely popular HBO series based on his video game after serving as co-showrunner for the first two seasons….
Neil Druckmann has been involved in everything related to “The Last of Us” ever since he created the video game so it made since why he was such an integral part of the team that adapted the source material into the Emmy winning series on HBO.
Alongside Craig Mazin, who received critical acclaim for his work on the limited series “Chernobyl,” Druckmann developed “The Last of Us” TV series and ultimately served as co-showrunner for the first two seasons. But after it was announced that the show was renewed and returning for season 3, Druckmann abruptly announced his departure from the series and speculation ran wild that perhaps he had a creative falling out with Mazin about the direction of the show.
It turns out that couldn’t be further from the truth because Druckmann explained that his decision to leave “The Last of Us” TV series had everything to do with returning to his video game company Naughty Dog where he’s working hard on releasing a new title that’s been in development for the past five years.
“It was right when we were about to start the writers’ room for Season 3,” Druckmann told Variety about the timing of his exit from the show. “I looked at what’s in front of me, what would the next season might look like, and with all the various “Last of Us” things I’m working on — not just the show — with all the various games I’m working on, the biggest one that takes up most of my time is “Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet,” our next big IP for Naughty Dog and PlayStation, it felt like I could better serve all of my responsibilities if I stayed at a higher level.
“It was quite challenging to be as involved as a co-showrunner on Season 1 and Season 2, while running a studio and working and directing and writing a game. I really appreciated at Naughty Dog how many people stepped up while I was gone working on Season 2. Specifically, I spent quite a bit of effort on Episode 206 — prepping it, writing it, directing it. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to do that again. So I felt it around that period when we’re wrapping up all the press and really about to get started with earnest in Season 3, that was a good time to reassess everything.”
Druckmann admitted that adapting “The Last of Us” into an HBO series was as much about seeing his story transformed into a live action show but also to build even more awareness about the video game series it’s based upon.
HIs hope was that viewers who had never heard of him or “The Last of Us” previously would be stunned to find out it’s all based on a very elaborate and beloved video game series. Druckmann obviously accomplished that with “The Last of Us” becoming a smash hit for HBO but he also admits working so hard on the series, took him away from his responsibilities at the Naughty Dog studios.
“We have this data: People have watched the show and have come back and bought a PlayStation or bought it on PC and have played ‘The Last of Us,’ and that has become this gateway for them, for this medium that I love so much,” Druckmann said. “But it was really hard work, and I was really there in the weeds to get Season 1 off the ground, and then it was important to get [Season 2 and the storyline for] game 2 off the ground as well, because I love that story so much.
“But now I felt like the path has been set for it. It was time to go back to the thing that started it all, which is just full-time video game work. But other things are coming and we can announce more things soon.”
With Mazin now taking over as the solo showrunner, is Druckmann going to be involved with the series at all moving forward?
“We had started talking about what is left to adapt back when we were working on Season 2, because we knew we would not be able to finish it and we were gonna end on a cliffhanger,” Druckmann said. “As I was saying earlier, my job now is to stay very high level. As much as I miss getting into the weeds and working on the effects shots and giving script notes and really getting into the details of it, I’m trying to just shepherd it.
“My hope for Season 3, and what I’d like to I think I can best contribute to it, is to make sure it’s as deeply faithful as Season 1 was. Because I feel like that is the gold standard for this kind of adaptation, while enjoying all these beautiful expansions that happen naturally with the rest of the team and how they’re working on Season 3. So that is where my involvement will stay is at that very, very high level.”
Development on “The Last of Us” season 3 continues while Druckmann keeps working on his next video game release for Naughty Dog.
There’s no word yet when “The Last of Us” season 3 will be released but we do know the series is expected to shift perspectives with a focus on Abby — as played by Kaitlyn Dever — and her story for the next several episodes.
