HBO has officially confirmed its adaptation of The Last of Us will get a second season, because of the booming interest in the show, and rave reviews from critics. This news followed the airing of the show’s second episode, which spotlighted the struggle between survivors Joel and Tess, and revelations around Ellie’s immunity towards the deadly fungus plaguing America.
‘I'm humbled, honoured, and frankly overwhelmed that so many people have tuned in and associated with our retelling of Joel and Ellie's journey,’ executive producer Neil Druckmann said of the announcement. Druckmann is also the writer and inventive director from the original video game, and it is co-president of their development studio, Naughty Dog.
‘The collaboration with Craig Mazin, our incredible cast & crew, and HBO exceeded my already high expectations. We now have the absolute pleasure of being able to do it again with season two! With respect to everyone at Naughty Dog & PlayStation, thanks!’
An early season two renewal makes sense, given the enthusiasm for that show – but it’s currently unclear how writers will proceed. The very first season of the HBO adaptation charts the events of the whole first video game, including new context and pitstops along the way, but largely following a original plot closely.
While The Last of Us Part 2 continues the story of Ellie and Joel, there’s a significant time jump between these chapters. In Part 2, Ellie is much older and much more mature, as is her story. Should HBO leap directly into this plot because of its pick up, producers will need to deal with Bella Ramsey’s younger age, consider a longer wait between seasons, or perhaps think about recasting Ellie, to better depict the passing of your time.
It’s also possible HBO could tackle a ‘filler’ season, with brand new stories and plots made to extend Ellie and Joel’s tale until the events of Part 2 arrive naturally.
Whatever the situation, it’s clear there’s an appetite for more of The Last people – in whatever form it takes. Recently, it had been reported that viewership between the third and fourth episodes of the show jumped 22%, likely thanks to word-of-mouth, and positive reception between episode releases.
For further analysis and reading around the HBO adaptation of The Last of Us, you can check out the following articles:
- A spoiler-free review of the entire first season of The Last of Us HBO TV series
- The Last of Us HBO Tv show: Cast and Character Guide
- The Last of Us interview: Henry and Perry actors examine their work
Episode recaps and analysis:
- The Last people – Episode 1 Recap – ‘When You’re Lost within the Darkness’
- The Last of Us – Episode 2 Recap – ‘Infected’
- The Last people – Episode 3 Recap – ‘Long, Long Time’
- The Last of Us – Episode 4 Recap – ‘Please Hold to My Hand’
- The Last of Us – Episode 5 Recap – 'Endure and Survive'
Behind-the-scenes podcast recaps:
- HBO’s All of the Us Podcast – Episode 1 Recap – ‘When You’re Lost in the Darkness’
- HBO’s All of the Us Podcast – Episode 2 Recap – ‘Infected’
- HBO’s The Last of Us Podcast – Episode 3 Recap – ‘Long, Long Time’
- HBO’s All of the Us Podcast – Episode 4 Recap – ‘Please Hold to My Hand’
The Last of Us is now streaming on HBO Max in the US, and Binge in Australia.
