Neil Druckmann to Exit HBO's The Last of Us for Season 3

Naughty Dog studio head Neil Druckmann has announced he will not be creatively involved in the upcoming third season of HBO's The Last of Us, choosing to devote his full attention to developing the game Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

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— Naughty Dog (@Naughty_Dog) July 2, 2025

In a statement posted to Naughty Dog's social media channels, Druckmann said the following:

"I've made the difficult decision to step back from my creative role on HBO's The Last of Us. With Season 2 completed and before significant work on Season 3 begins, this is the right moment for me to shift my complete focus to Naughty Dog and its future projects. This includes writing and directing our next exciting game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, alongside my duties as Studio Head and Head of Creative.

"Co-creating the show has been a highlight of my career. It was an honor to work alongside Craig Mazin as an executive producer, director, and writer on the first two seasons. I'm profoundly grateful to the talented cast and crew for their thoughtful dedication in adapting The Last of Us Part I and continuing the adaptation of Part II."

Additional reporting from The Ankler indicates that showrunner Craig Mazin will lead the writing for Season 3, following his partnership with Druckmann on the first two seasons.

Druckmann's renewed focus on game development follows the reveal of Naughty Dog's next project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, at The Game Awards in December 2024. While that game is his primary focus, it's not the studio's only undertaking. Druckmann has confirmed another unannounced game is in development internally, where he serves "more in a producer role," mentoring the team, providing feedback, and acting as an executive.

Meanwhile, HBO's The Last of Us adaptation has been a major success. HBO reported that Season 2 brought an "influx" of viewers, raising the series' total global audience to over 90 million since Season 1 ended, though it noted that lower viewership for the Season 2 finale was due to its Memorial Day weekend release.

While Season 3 is confirmed to be in development, it may not conclude the series. Mazin has stated he believes a fourth season is essential, and the series composer recently said on a podcast there would be "at least two more seasons, no question." It remains unclear whether Druckmann would return in a creative capacity for a potential fourth season.

We awarded The Last of Us Season 1 a 9/10, calling it "a stunning adaptation that should thrill newcomers and enrich the experience for fans of Joel and Ellie's journey." Season 2 received a slightly lower 7/10, described as "still good, but a sequel that struggles because it only tells half the story."