Latest news with #NeilDruckmann
Geek Feed
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Feed
Save the Dog: Why They Cut Alice from the Last of Us Finale
The Last of Us finale had come as a shock to several viewers, but anyone who's played the game knew exactly what was coming… sort of. Fans online have been discussing all sorts of changes the series has been doing compared to the game, and a lot of fans were wondering just where Alice a.k.a. Mel's WLF-trained dog was. Since the dog was ultimately going to be killed by Ellie, showrunner Craig Mazin thought that having Ellie kill a dog would have been 'one too much' for the scene. Talking to Polygon, Mazin explains , 'There are two cardinal rules in Hollywood, one, don't spend your own money, two, don't kill a dog… Plus, because it's live action, the nature of violence becomes much more, well, graphic. It's more graphic because…it's not like there's an animation between you and it, [and] it's very disturbing.' Seeing that Ellie already kills Owen, Mel, and (indirectly) Mel's baby (plus Jessie gets shot); it was game creator Neil Druckmann who said, '…in our conversation, we're like this [is] probably one too many.' Interestingly enough, some fans were complaining that Mazin was so 'fine' with dog murder in Chernobyl , to which he actually addresses that in the interview, 'I think you get like one dog murdering episode a lifetime.' If anything, most of the audience's investment on Alice actually comes from Abby's side of the story since players get to interact and even play with her in the game. No doubt Alice will probably be introduced in the next season, but who knows, maybe it's Tommy that offs her this time. We'll just have to wait and see. Check out the complete second season of The Last of Us now streaming on HBO Max.
Khaleej Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
'The Last of Us' Season 2: Creators break down character deaths and Season 3 plans
After a two-year hiatus, The Last of Us stormed back into our lives with its soul-shattering second season. Clocking in at just seven episodes over seven weeks, the season was shorter than the first—but packed with devastating emotion, brutal choices, and some of the most iconic moments lifted straight from the game and elevated through live action. The result? A season that gave longtime fans a reason to grieve all over again—and newcomers a masterclass in morally complex storytelling. Ahead of the finale, which aired on OSN+ on Monday in the UAE, I attended a virtual press conference with co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. As someone who has played the video game and watched the show evolve in real time, it was great to see the makers diving deep into character analysis and hinting at a bigger, more layered Season 3. A shorter season, a heavier punch Where Season 1 introduced us to Joel and Ellie's bond against the backdrop of a ravaged America, Season 2 flips the emotional equation. Joel's death, a moment to relive for those who played the game, and still gutting to watch, is the narrative thunderclap that reshapes the world for Ellie—and us. Unlike in the game, where players controlled Joel and Ellie, the show allows us to watch them with some distance, yet ironically brings us closer to their emotional core. Craig Mazin described the death scene as the moment he was both most eager and terrified to shoot: 'It wasn't so much the mechanics of Joel dying… it was capturing the emotional devastation," he said. "Bella (Ramsey) was shattering in that moment.' Pascal's version of Joel is notably softer and more open than Troy Baker's gruff, emotionally barricaded portrayal in the game—a shift Druckmann acknowledged. He said, "Pedro's Joel is more articulate, more outwardly vulnerable… It felt right for the version of the story we're telling.' The show expands Joel's emotional vocabulary, especially in the penultimate episode like the porch scene, where he tells Ellie: ' Because I love you… in a way you can't understand.' That line—absent from the game—was added to underline the depth of his paternal bond with Ellie, and set the stage for her heartbreak-fueled arc. Blood, guilt, and the drug of revenge This season didn't just chart a path through post-apocalyptic Seattle; it charted Ellie's psychological breakdown. From a relationship that blooms with Dina (Isabella Merced, who is brilliant in the show), to a series of increasingly violent choices, Ellie walks a razor's edge. One of the season's darkest moments—the accidental killing of a pregnant doctor, Mel—is handled with almost surgical cruelty by the writers. 'If you're rooting for Ellie, that moment should make you feel dirty,' said Mazin. 'This breaks her,' he added. 'And Bella's performance in that scene is astonishing.' Druckmann added that Ellie's obsession mirrors addiction. He said, "You can get over it… the question is, can she ever fully get over it?' The idea that revenge is not a satisfying conclusion but a corrosive journey is baked into every scene. By the finale, Ellie is emotionally hollowed out—poised on the brink of a confrontation with Abby that the show smartly saves for a later season. What's coming in Season 3? While Mazin and Druckmann refused to share exact plot points about Season 3, they made it abundantly clear: Abby's story is next. As in the game, we're likely to shift into her point of view—and actress Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Abby, is not going anywhere. 'We haven't seen the last of Kaitlyn Dever… or Bella Ramsey… or a lot of people who are currently dead,' teased Mazin. This aligns with the structure of The Last of Us Part II, where Abby's journey becomes central—and controversial—for players. The show seems prepared to embrace that polarising shift, with Druckmann adding, 'We're telling you next season… this other story is going to be really important.' And what about Tommy, Joel's brother, played by Gabriel Luna? I asked them why his role felt muted this season, compared to his more active presence in the game. Mazin pushed back: 'He defended Jackson from an entire assault… I don't know if I agree with the premise.' But then he added something more intriguing: 'There's the potential of seeing this other side of Tommy… once he's outside the confines of Jackson.' That promise of a more vengeful, morally flexible Tommy is something fans can—and should—look forward to. Druckmann's response? "Just wait." A story still haunted by Joel Though Joel dies early in the season, his ghost lingers in every frame. Whether it's Ellie hearing his voice, Dina recalling his kindness, or even the blood-stained memory of what he did at the end of last season's finale, his actions shape everyone's present. Mazin summarised it best: 'Everything is under the cloud—or sunlight—of Joel. What Joel did to Abby and what he did for Ellie. That will never change.' Even the show's structure continues to echo the past. Season 2 ends just before the iconic Ellie vs. Abby showdown. Why stop there? 'This is part of the genetics of how this story functions,' said Mazin.'We have to take risks… and HBO supports us in doing that.' With Ellie emotionally shattered, Jesse (Young Mazino) dead, Tommy lost in vengeance, and Abby's perspective waiting in the wings, The Last of Us is gearing up for a third—and likely penultimate—season that will test every character's core beliefs. This is a show that's never been about who lives or dies—it's about what survives in the aftermath: grief, love, guilt, and memory.
Gizmodo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘The Last of Us' Showrunners Talk That Shocking Cliffhanger and Season 3 Teases
The wait between seasons one and two of The Last of Us was brutal, but at least that story had ended. We wanted to see what was next for Joel and Ellie, but it wasn't absolutely necessary. That's not the case for season two, though, which ends right smack in the middle of the story, with a cliffhanger that's sure to frustrate many viewers. It's all but assured that the wait for season three will be worse. In the meantime, you are probably wondering a few things about not just the end of season two, but what's to come in season three. And, thankfully, showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann were happy to talk about that. Below, we'll tell you what The Last of Us team had to say about the season two cliffhanger, whether that was always the ending, how things might be changing for season three, and some of the questions you should be asking as you wait. Season two of The Last of Us ends in the middle of a key moment between Ellie and Abby before flashing back a few days to Abby. The implication, much as it is in the video game, is that we are about to see Abby's story moving ahead, and that's absolutely the plan. 'We often talk about what are we promising the audience going forward?' Druckmann said in a press conference. 'So, for example, it was important for Craig in episode five that we show Joel in that last scene, because then there's a promise of where we're going to next. And had we ended the season somewhere else, maybe like a few moments before, I think that we wouldn't be making the right promise of what this is about. And we're telling you next season, well, one is that there's just an epic nature to what's about to happen. But this other story is going to be really important coming back to Joel and Ellie and everything that you've seen so far.' In the game, though, the audience has a natural pain and discomfort when the point of view shifts from Ellie, a character you have been playing as, to then playing as her sworn enemy, Abby. Mazin admits it's one place a show comes up short compared to the video game but they hope they did as good a job as possible to duplicate it. 'We can't… reproduce the shock of becoming another person,' he said. 'In games, you are Joel. You are Ellie. You are Abby. And when that shift happens, it is jarring because you have been someone. But here we are watching everybody equally on a screen. We may identify with them from time to time in different ways, and we may be conflicted, but we're not them. So when we go to a scene where we're somebody else, there's the normal thing of, 'Whoa, I'm suddenly with Jeffrey Wright in a weird, creepy kitchen. And I'm watching him torture somebody.' That's a little jarring, but it's never going to be what a video game can do when you shift perspective in a massive way like that. So I think what we do, and what we're doing correctly, is honoring the notion that there is a time period where one person experiences it one way, and another person is experiencing it so wildly different, and yet they converge. It's a convergent storm… And that's what matters. But can we reproduce that gut-punch feeling? No. And I think if we had chased it, we probably would have fallen on our faces.' So if the show couldn't match that moment in the same way, was there ever a discussion of changing things? Maybe ending it differently? There was, but not for long. 'Honestly, we were open to a different ending,' Mazin admitted. 'We talked about it a lot. We considered everything. Of course, you want to play around. Like maybe we should just interlace the stories. Maybe we should just go back and forth. Maybe we should try this. Maybe we should try that. And then in the end, I just remember saying, 'Isn't this part of the genetics of how this story functions?' It's just part of the genetics. Now, what it means is we have to take risks as a television show and HBO has to back us taking risks. But then again, we did just kill Pedro Pascal. They understand that this show is going to be a different show every season, which is sort of a tricky thing to do when you're a hit show. You keep asking people like, 'I know you love this. We're taking it away and giving you this now.' And then hopefully they go, 'Oh, well, you know what? We actually really like this.' 'Oh, that's nice. Now we're giving you this now' because that's how the story works.' And so, in season three, the point of view will certainly shift to Abby. But, does that mean Bella Ramsey's Ellie won't be in season three? 'I remember when people were asking about season two, they were like, 'And what about Joel and when he dies?' I'm like, 'Whoa, whoa, whoa. What do you mean 'When?' 'If!'' Mazin says. 'The [third] season will arrive, and it will do what it does. Even if I thought I knew now exactly how it was going to go. I'm experienced enough to know that two weeks from now, we may have a different idea of how it should go. All I can say is we haven't seen the last of Kaitlyn Dever, we haven't seen the last of Bella Ramsey, we haven't seen the last of Isabela Merced, and we haven't even seen the last of a lot of people who are currently dead in the story.' Druckmann added, 'Whether you will see them on screen or not, their presence will be there throughout.' Finally, season two may have focused on Ellie's story, and season three might focus on Abby's, but so much else is happening too. There's Isaac and the WLF. The Serephites. Their war. And Mazin wants fans to be aware of all of that. 'I think [all those other stories] bode well for next season,' he said. 'I have so many questions and I think and I understand that the audience does too. I sort of want to assure them that those questions are correct and will be answered. 'What is going on? How did that war start? How did the Seraphites start? Who is the prophet? What happened to her? What does Isaac want? What's happening at the end of episode seven? What is this explosion? What is all of it?' All of it will become clear.' When specifically? We don't know. In 2027 perhaps? Either way, the wait has begun. Watch all seven episodes of The Last of Us season two on HBO Max now.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Last of Us EPs Drop Terrifying Season 3 Hints: Here's Everything We Know So Far
The Last of Us Season 3 doesn't even have a premiere date yet, and we're already scared. In our defense, the show's co-creators have hinted that two highly disturbing elements from The Last of Us Part II video game will show up when the HBO drama returns for its third round. More from TVLine The Rehearsal: Nathan Fielder Pulls Off His Wildest TV Stunt Yet in a High-Flying Finale - Grade the Season! The Last of Us Season 3: Is Pedro Pascal Gone for Good? Here's What the EPs Say The Last of Us Finale Kills [Spoiler], Teases Abby's Side of the Story - Plus, Grade It! During a recent call with reporters, executive producers Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann were asked for quick Season 3 teases. 'Rats, what should we talk about?' Mazin said, laughing, the wordplay likely pointing to the rat king infected, a conjoined clicker, stalker and bloater that is incredibly difficult to kill. The creature shows up in The Last of Us Part II video game. Meanwhile, Druckmann pointed out a Seattle landmark that showed up in the Season 2 finale and that'll have greater significance in the future — particularly for Abby. 'There's a certain crane that you're seeing in Episode 7 that's very telling,' he said. (If you want a sneak peek from the game, go here.) Season 2 came to a close with Ellie's fate uncertain after Abby confronted her at the theater. After Abby fired a gun, the screen went black. The next thing we knew, the action had rewound a few days… only the viewers now were seeing things from Abby's perspective. On-screen text informed us that we were watching Seattle Day 1 all over again. (Read a full finale recap here.) It'll be a while before Ellie & Co. will be back. In the meantime, we'll continue to gather all the intel we can, including cast, trailers, photos and premiere info. Make sure to come back to this post often. And right now, scroll down to see everything we know (so far) about Season 3. At the moment, HBO hasn't said anything about what will happen in Season. However, given that Season 2 ended with a switch to Abby's perspective, we're guessing that at least the beginning of the coming season will concern itself with Kaitlyn Dever's character and her experiences in The Last of Us Part II video game. In a call with reporters, Mazin said of the Dina/Ellie relationship: 'Where it's going should be fascinating, given the circumstances that we now all know: Dina is pregnant, and the two of them are committed to each other. That said, there is another side to this story that we have yet to really delve into. And there's no question that Abby is the hero of her story, Kaitlyn Dever is the hero of a story always, you know. I mean, if you have a Kaitlyn Dever, you use a Kaitlyn Dever. So, I think where we go next, all I can say is, it will always be centering somebody, whether it's Ellie and Dina, or whether it's Abby and Abby's relationship with Owen, or new relationships.' We don't yet know how closely Season 3 will follow — and potentially go beyond — the plot of The Last of Us Part II. Mazin has said that he doesn't think he and Druckmann will be able to complete the story in just one more season, indicating that a Season 4 may be necessary to do so. As of now, the drama is renewed only through Season 3. The official Season 3 cast list hasn't been released, but there's a good chance that the returning cast will include Bella Ramsey, Isabela Merced, Kaitlyn Dever, Gabriel Luna, Danny Ramirez and Jeffrey Wright. But what about Pedro Pascal, whose character, Joel, died in Season 2? Click here to see what Mazin and Druckmann have to say about Joel's presence in Season 3. No word yet on which actors will join the Season 3 cast, but we'll update this post as soon as any names are announced. HBO hasn't released a Season 3 premiere date yet, but we will update this post as soon as information becomes available. For context: Season 1 premiered in January 2023, and Season 2 premiered in April 2025. We don't know yet how many episodes Season 3 will have; we'll let you know as soon as we find out. Season 1 consisted of nine episodes, and Season 2 consisted of seven. There's no trailer right now. We'll update this post as soon as one becomes available. The Last of Us Seasons 1 and 2 are streaming in their entirety on HBO Max. Best of TVLine Young Sheldon Easter Eggs: Every Nod to The Big Bang Theory (and Every Future Reveal) Across 7 Seasons Weirdest TV Crossovers: Always Sunny Meets Abbott, Family Guy vs. Simpsons, Nine-Nine Recruits New Girl and More ER Turns 30: See the Original County General Crew, Then and Now
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Last of Us Season 3: Is Pedro Pascal Gone for Good? Here's What the EPs Say
The Last of Us. Season 2 of The Last of Us taught us that if you love someone, you can always see their face. But will fans have to rely solely on memory to summon Pedro Pascal when the HBO drama returns for Season 3? More from TVLine The Last of Us Finale Kills [Spoiler], Switches to Tell Abby's Side of the Story - Plus, Grade It! Save the Dates: Mariska Hargitay's Documentary, Noah's Arc: The Movie and More Criminal Minds: A.J. Cook Opens Up About JJ's Loss, Her Real-Life Sons Playing 'Big Emotions,' and Negotiating That Brief Cameo Joel, played by Pascal, was killed in the second episode of Season 2. His death had an element of surprise for both viewers unfamiliar with the video game, who didn't expect it, and longtime fans, who didn't know exactly when it would occur. The character was absent from Episodes 3 and 4, then popped up in a quick flashback at the end of Episode 5 that led into the flashback-filled Episode 6. (Read a recap of that episode here.) Joel was not present in any form in Sunday's Season 2 finale. (Read that recap here.) Now that the bulk of the Joel scenes from the games have been covered in the HBO series, what does that mean for Pascal's involvement in the third season (and potentially beyond)? During a recent call with reporters, series co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann stopped short of answering that question definitively. But we think what they did disclose merits consideration and discussion. 'I remember when people were asking about Season 2, they were like, 'And what about Joel… and when he dies?' I'm like, 'Wait, what you you mean 'when'?' Mazin said, laughing. Season 3 'will arrive, and it will do what it does. Even if I thought I knew now exactly how it was going to go, I'm experienced enough to know that two weeks from now, we may have a different idea of how it should go.' He added: 'All I can say is we haven't seen the last of Kaitlyn Dever, and we haven't seen the last of Bella Ramsey, and we haven't seen the last of Isabela Merced, and we haven't seen the last of a lot of people who are currently dead in the story. So I guess the short answer to that question that everyone is asking is: No, I'm not answering.' Druckmann chimed in, 'I'll give a bit more, which is: Whether you will see them on screen or not, their presence will be there throughout.' So, Last of Us fans, what do you think? On one hand, neither executive producer mentioned Pascal by name. On the other, the inclusion of 'a lot of people who are currently dead in the story' certainly covers him. Think hard about what you think should and/or will happen in Season 3, then tell us about it in the comments. Best of TVLine Young Sheldon Easter Eggs: Every Nod to The Big Bang Theory (and Every Future Reveal) Across 7 Seasons Weirdest TV Crossovers: Always Sunny Meets Abbott, Family Guy vs. Simpsons, Nine-Nine Recruits New Girl and More ER Turns 30: See the Original County General Crew, Then and Now
