'The Last of Us' game creator steps away from show in shakeup before Season 3
Neil Druckmann, the mind behind the "Last of Us" video games on which the acclaimed HBO TV series is based, is stepping away from his creative involvement in the show, he announced on Wednesday, July 2.
In a statement shared with USA TODAY, Druckmann said he made the "difficult decision" in order to focus on his role as head of creative at the video game developer Naughty Dog amid work on the upcoming science-fiction game "Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet."
Druckmann wrote and directed the two video games that the "Last of Us" show is based on, and he created the series with Craig Mazin. He has written or directed numerous key episodes. Since the first season, Druckmann and Mazin have also regularly talked through their creative choices with the adaptation on an official "The Last of Us" companion podcast.
A person familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly confirmed to USA TODAY that Druckmann will not write or direct any episodes of "The Last of Us" Season 3, but will still serve as co-creator and executive producer.
All about that 'Last of Us' finale: Who died? Who survived?
"Co-creating the show has been a career highlight," Druckmann said in a statement. "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 of the thoughtful approach and dedication the talented cast and crew took to adapting 'The Last of Us Part I' and their continued adaptation of 'The Last of Us Part II.'"
Mazin said in a statement that it has "been a creative dream" to work with Druckmann, adding, "I'll continue to work with our brilliant cast and crew to deliver the show our audience has come to expect."
The Last of Us' Season 3: Everything we know so far from the game
The news comes more than a month after the conclusion of "The Last of Us" Season 2, which began adapting the controversial 2020 video game "The Last of Us Part II." In accordance with the game, the third season is expected to shift perspectives and center on Kaitlyn Dever's character, Abby, with Bella Ramsey likely to have a reduced role.
In his statement, Druckmann noted that no "meaningful work" has started on Season 3.
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