With Season 2 of HBO’s The Last of Us premiering next week, fans have speculated how much of the second game’s story will be covered. We know the timeline won’t be completely linear to the game, and with the sequel’s actual gameplay length, there’s only so much room in a single season. It’s been theorized that there might be room for at least one more season of the show, but what if there were more game material to adapt?
Talking to Variety, showrunner Craig Mazin explained that they’ll need more than this upcoming season to tell the whole story that Neil Druckmann told in the games. However, the thought of spin-off potential has crossed his mind, even if he’s not the one running the show.
“As far as additional source material, as a fan of The Last of Us, if Neil has more games, I would love it,” Mazin said. “For me as a writer and showrunner, this is my Last of Us. So this will be the last of my Last of Us, covering the events of the first and second game.”
Mazin then compared the possibilities of more shows to tell broader stories, similar to The Walking Dead, and how HBO brought House of the Dragon and the upcoming A Knight of The Seven Kingdoms to continue the Game of Thrones franchise.
“I think there’s always a world where you could see additional material, like the way House of the Dragon has thrived after the conclusion of Game of Thrones. And I could certainly see myself being somebody that the people making that show, they pick up the phone and call me and say, ‘How did you do this? Or what do you think about this?’ But it won’t be mine to do. Somebody else will be handling that.”
Season 2 picks up five years after the events of Season 1, with Joel and Ellie’s relationship strained and frayed from the dramatic Season 1 conclusion. More high drama is expected in Season 2, as the show adapts some of the events of The Last of Us: Part II and brings in new characters, including Abby Anderson (Kaitlyn Dever).
HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 premieres on Max and HBO on April 13.
