‘The Last of Us’ Co-Creator Neil Druckmann to Exit HBO Series

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The popular TV series, recognized for its shocking character exits, has experienced an off-screen departure of significant proportions: co-showrunner Neil Druckmann is leaving the successful HBO production “The Last of Us.

After this decision, Craig Mazin is now the lone showrunner for the upcoming third season. Neil Druckmann will still be recognized as a co-creator and executive producer in future seasons.

The upheaval follows a contentious second season that saw a slight dip in viewership (it’s important to note though, that this season heavily relied on the second PlayStation game, “The Last of Us Part Two,” which also didn’t sell as much as its predecessor).

Neil Druckmann announced in a statement that he’s chosen to withdraw from his creative role for “The Last of Us” on HBO. With the second season’s work finished and no significant work starting on the third, this appears to be the optimal moment for him to concentrate fully on Naughty Dog and its upcoming projects, such as writing, directing our upcoming game titled “Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet“, while also fulfilling his duties as Studio Head and Head of Creative.

Druckmann went on to say, “Working together on this show has been a career milestone. It’s been a privilege to collaborate with Craig Mazin as we executive produce, direct, and write for the last two seasons. I am incredibly grateful for the care and commitment our talented cast and crew showed in adapting ‘The Last of Us Part I’ and their ongoing work on ‘The Last of Us Part II’. I eagerly anticipate HBO and PlayStation Productions telling more of Ellie and Abby’s story in the next season.

Apart from Mazin’s comment: “It has been a long-held creative ambition of mine to collaborate with Neil and transform his masterful work into a series for HBO. I couldn’t have wished for a more supportive creative ally. Being a devoted admirer of Naughty Dog and Neil’s video game creations, I can hardly contain my enthusiasm for his upcoming project. Meanwhile, as he dedicates himself to that, I will carry on working with our exceptionally talented cast and crew to deliver the quality show our viewers have grown accustomed to. We are profoundly grateful to Neil and Halley Gross for letting us adapt The Last of Us Part II, and we are equally appreciative of the countless fans worldwide who tune in. We feel honored by this trust.

In June, the showrunners of The Last of Us shared a joint interview discussing the finale of season two and hinting at what’s to come in season three. During this conversation, Druckmann foreshadowed that the next season would be filled with an immense scale of events, stating, “Everything that’s about to happen in the next season will have an epic quality to it.

Neil Druckmann served as a visionary head in the development of The Last of Us video games at Naughty Dog, collaborating with Mazin to bring the TV show adaptation into reality. The HBO rendition of The Last of Us has garnered significant acclaim from both critics and audiences, positioning it as a likely Emmy contender. Initial reports about their separation were made public by The Ankler.

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2025-07-02 21:25