The first season of the highly anticipated HBO adaptation of The Last of Us has finally premiered, but with it already finished, fans are left wondering what to expect from the future of the series. Although there is currently no start date or premiere for Season 2, details from the creators Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin have revealed that it will closely follow the events of The Last of Us: Part II, with some differences from the original material. The statement that the story of the second game gives for “more than a television season” has left fans theorizing that The Last of Us could have more than two television seasons.
The Last of Us: Part II follows a specific order that separates Ellie’s story from Abby’s, which could be followed exactly in the adaptation. Alternatively, there are two potential options for dividing the story of The Last of Us: Part II in the adaptation. The first option involves expanding on the five-year gap between the first and second games by developing those years in Season 2, recapping some of the relationship development between Ellie and Joel, and further exploring the figures of Maria, Tommy, and Dina. The season could end with Joel’s death at the hands of Abby, leading into a third season.
The second option, which could more closely mirror the order of the game, consists of dividing the series into two seasons, one for Ellie’s story and one for Abby’s. Season 2 would focus on Ellie’s journey to avenge Joel’s death with brief glimpses into her memories of Joel, culminating in her confrontation with Abby at the theater. Abby’s figure would be left more separate. A hypothetical Season 3 would begin by explaining Abby’s motivation for killing Joel before developing her perspective leading to her confrontation with Ellie at the theater, continuing with Ellie’s retreat to the farm and her further search for Abby.
All in all, fans of the series will have to wait until Season 2 to see what Druckmann and Mazin have in store for the future of The Last of Us adaptation.
