Well, this one’s going to sting for fans of The Last of Us. Neil Druckmann, the creative force behind the video game franchise and co-creator of its hit HBO adaptation, has announced that he’s stepping away from the series just as it gears up for Season 3.
“I’ve made the difficult decision to step away from my creative involvement in The Last of Us on HBO,” Druckmann shared in a statement posted to Naughty Dog’s official Instagram.
“With work completed on season 2 and before any meaningful work starts on season 3, now is the right time for me to transition my complete focus to Naughty Dog and its future projects, including writing and directing our exciting next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, along with my responsibilities as Studio Head and Head of Creative.”
Druckmann added, “Co-creating the show has been a career highlight. It’s been an honor to work alongside Craig Mazin to executive produce, direct and write on the last two seasons.
“I’m deeply thankful for the thoughtful approach and dedication the talented cast and crew took to adapting The Last of Us Part I and the continued adaptation of The Last of Us Part II.”
Halley Gross, who co-wrote The Last of Us Part II and served as executive producer and writer on the show, is also leaving.
“With great care and consideration, I’ve decided to take a step back from my day-to-day work on HBO’s The Last of Us to make space for what comes next,” Gross said on Instagram.
“I’m so appreciative of how special this experience has been. Working alongside Neil, Craig, HBO, and this remarkable cast and crew has been life changing. The stories we told – about love, loss, and what it means to be human in a terrifying world – are exactly why I love this franchise.
“I have some truly rad projects ahead that I can’t wait to share, but for now, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who brought Ellie and Joel’s world to life with such care.”
Druckmann and Gross’s exits mark a major shift behind the scenes, especially with the third season just announced back in April. While both will still carry executive producer credits, the day-to-day creative reins now fall more fully to co-creator Craig Mazin.
“It’s been a creative dream to work with Neil and bring an adaptation of his brilliant work to life on HBO,” Mazin said. “I couldn’t have asked for a more generous creative partner.
“As a true fan of Naughty Dog and Neil’s work in video games, I’m beyond excited to play his next game. While he focuses on that, I’ll continue to work with our brilliant cast and crew to deliver the show our audience has come to expect.
“We are so grateful to Neil and Halley Gross for entrusting the incredible story of The Last of Us Part II to us, and we’re just as grateful to the millions of people around the world who tune in.”
Season 1 of The Last of Us became one of HBO’s most acclaimed and most-watched dramas, earning 24 Primetime Emmy nominations. Season 2 premiered earlier this year, expanding on the emotional devastation of the games and setting up even bigger stakes for what’s to come.
As for Druckmann’s next move, his mysterious new game Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet was revealed late last year, with You and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina star Tati Gabrielle set to lead. Music will come from Oscar-winning duo Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. No release date has been announced yet.
Well, hopefully the show will continue to be good as it continues without Druckman or Gross!
