When Will The Last of Us Season 3 Come Out? Experts Say It May Be 2027

Following the end of season 2, Jackson County seems to be a distant place now. Ellie (Bella Ramsey), driven by revenge after Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) mercilessly killed Joel (Pedro Pascal) in her presence, has found herself immersed in a quest for vengeance. Her journey led her to Seattle, where she aimed to track down her W.L.F. adversary, only to discover that the situation was not as straightforward as initially anticipated. What started as a straightforward mission for retribution has grown into something far more complex, and it appears that we may need at least two more seasons to fully unravel this intricate storyline.

The television series heavily draws inspiration from the video games “The Last of Us” (released in 2013) and its sequel “The Last of Us Part II” (released in 2020). Although there have been significant differences, such as the award-winning episode 3 of season 1 that significantly altered the narrative for characters Bill (played by Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett), the show generally stays true to the games. As a result, more than half of the game’s story remains untold, with the conclusion of season 2 leaving us right in the heart of the plot. Regrettably, fans hoping for the next installment of “The Last of Us” will have to wait longer than initially anticipated.

The Last of Us Season 2 Is Officially Over

The Season Had Only Seven Episodes

In the early stages of the second season, the plot predominantly revolved around Ellie’s quest to locate and eliminate Abby. Throughout this journey, there were several major plot twists, most notably Dina’s pregnancy, Ellie discovering Joel’s actions against the Fireflies, and Jessie’s appearance in Seattle. These events significantly altered the narrative’s direction. As we move towards Season 3, the show has predominantly delved into Abby’s involvement with the ruthless militia group, the W.L.F., and their complex interactions with their adversaries, the Seraphites. Ellie found herself squarely in the middle of a full-blown conflict between these groups, and she soon realized that she was at a significant disadvantage in terms of firepower.

In the last episode, Abby locates Ellie’s temporary base. It seems she found out about her friends’ deaths, and in the climactic scene, she shoots Jessie and appears ready to kill Ellie. However, instead of showing Ellie’s outcome, the series switches to three days earlier, where we see Abby waking up in a stadium suite. Given the structure of The Last of Us Part II and the finale’s ending, the upcoming season is expected to concentrate mainly on Abby’s story. Since her tale remains unfinished, viewers will have to be patient for quite some time to learn the end of Ellie’s story. This might disappoint fans after a seven-episode season, which was two episodes shorter than the first season. The most frustrating news concerns when season 3 will eventually come out.

Season 3 Is Two Years Away

The Show Began in 2023

Although Season 1 received a lot of attention, HBO didn’t anticipate starting Season 3 right away. The confirmation for Season 3 came on April 9, 2025, only four days before the release date of Season 2 on April 13, but this quick renewal still left limited time for scriptwriting and filming. As of now, the production for Season 3 has not started, as the seasons were not shot consecutively despite their initial success. The plan was initially to start filming in the summer, but considering the complexity of the visual effects and post-production work involved, it seems that the production process will take a considerable amount of time.

Based on the pattern set by Season 2 and recent updates, it seems that Abby and Ellie might not reappear on our screens for a considerable time, possibly in late 2026 or even 2027. This is because production for Season 3 may not start until 2026, as suggested by Isabela Merced (who plays Dina). If filming were to begin in Summer 2025, it would take several months to complete, pushing the end of production to December 2025 or early 2026. So, we might be waiting a while before we see The Last of Us Season 3.

The Last Of Us Season 3’s Delay Is A Mistake

The Show Could Easily Lose Momentum

While The Last of Us continues to hold a good deal of popularity, postponing Season 3 until 2026 or 2027 could be quite a gamble. The show has already witnessed a notable drop in ratings between Seasons 1 and 2. Despite a 13% increase in viewership from 4.7 million to 5.3 million viewers, the death of Joel seems to have affected audience retention. According to The Wrap, the season finale saw a steep 55% decrease in viewership compared to the original finale, with only 3.7 million viewers tuning in, as opposed to Season 1’s impressive 8.2 million. There is still potential for an increase in viewership, given that some viewers might not have realized that episode 7 was the finale following the last season’s nine episodes. Nevertheless, this trend suggests a concern for HBO, suggesting they must put in extra effort to keep the series from losing steam.

As a passionate moviegoer, I can’t help but express my concerns about the potential two-year delay for the next season of “The Last of Us.” With Abby, a character who has already sparked much debate due to her past actions like murdering one main character and attempting to kill another in the season finale, taking center stage, I fear that this focus on a divisive figure might further dampen viewer interest, particularly given the risk of waning enthusiasm from the delay. To preserve the momentum built by Season 2, it would have been wise for HBO to film both seasons back-to-back, especially considering their decision to renew the show before Season 2 had even aired.

In my opinion, had Abby’s tale been skillfully shared, viewers might have eagerly anticipated coming back for more. However, HBO decided to postpone production, and now the show faces the possibility of losing its dedicated fanbase. This decision has drawn criticism, and a two-year delay could potentially mean that the show may never regain its footing. Although the upcoming season holds great potential to revive the series, if executed flawlessly, releasing it in 2027 is an unnecessary risk that HBO shouldn’t have taken.

2025-06-02 04:35