news culture Amid a strike in Hollywood, The Last of Us creator shares news about the series and reassures fans
With the writers’ strike in full swing – and the actors’ strike in Hollywood just beginning – the co-creator of TV series The Last of Us shares news on production for Season 2 and is particularly optimistic.
The aftermath of the Hollywood strike
The scriptwriters’ strike has been in full swing in Hollywood for more than two months. Writers working for the various Los Angeles studios are demanding better working conditions and more recognition, especially with the advent of artificial intelligence. Moreover, the actors have just joined the screenwriters and are now going on strike together with them.
The cast of Oppenheimer notably refrained from promoting the film to support their cast members. Currently, this strike is having a major impact on the production schedule of Hollywood films and series. In fact, the start of construction of the second season of The Last of Us series is on hold. However, the future of the TV show doesn’t appear to be in jeopardy. At least that’s what Craig Mazin, the co-creator of the series, suggests.
All good for season 2
Recently interviewed by meetingCraig Mazin had the time to talk at length about the long-awaited second season of The Last of Us. The showrunner has confirmed that this season will cover the events of The Last of Us Part II and ensures that even players who have already played the game will be “surprised” by this new series of episodes.
To help them write this season, Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin will be joined by Halley Gross, who worked on the game’s screenplay, and screenwriter and producer Bo Shim. The first episode of this new season has already been written, but due to the strike, production is on hold for the time being. Nevertheless, Craig Mazin wants to be optimistic and shares excellent news with us: Season two should be released on time, namely for 2025, as desired by HBO. At least if the strike doesn’t last forever.
We had more flexibility than usual because we had to wait longer to adapt production to the weather. Most of our filming takes place outdoors, so we had a schedule that wasn’t immediately impacted. (…) If the strike goes on much longer, we will inevitably have to strike back, and that hurts us, it hurts the audience and it hurts HBO. We all want to go back to work. I think all the people doing the work, as well as the network people working with us on the ground, are confident that the situation is resolved. So we keep our fingers crossed.
An inevitable Season 3?
Craig Mazin also confirms that at least a third season is planned. However, the showrunner claims that the existence of this third season is not guaranteed and logically depends on the success of the second season.
There will be more than one additional season. Because there’s more story to come, this show won’t end at the end of season two unless people don’t see it and the show is cancelled. Unless that happens, we’re going to do things the same as the game. We’re also going to do other things that are in play, and we’re going to do things that are in play, but in a different way, according to our own method.
So it remains to be seen what Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have in store for us in this rereading of the second opus. Given the success of the first season and its record number of Emmy nominationsit is almost certain that season 2 will have a similar success, thus securing the future of the series and the start of season 3. Much like Craig Mazin, fingers crossed.
