Co-showrunner Neil Druckmann did not exit HBO’s “The Last of Us” lightly. The head of PlayStation’s Naughty Dog studio decided to leave once he felt he had achieved the lofty goal he set for adapting his renowned video game series for the small screen.
In a recent interview with Variety, he shared his goals for the show, indicating some were self-serving. He aimed to broaden the audience for “The Last of Us” beyond gamers. “I wanted someone to watch this show and have no idea it was based on a video game and then be like, ‘Wait, that’s based on a video game?’” he explained.
Druckmann announced his departure as co-showrunner in July after the Season 2 finale and the show’s renewal for Season 3. The finale garnered 3.7 million viewers and Season 2 saw greater average ratings compared to Season 1. The show is nominated for several Emmy Awards, including outstanding drama series and acting nominations for Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey.
“We’ve seen that viewers have returned to gaming after watching the show,” Druckmann noted. He emphasized the extensive effort put into Season 1, followed by work on Season 2, expressing satisfaction in setting the project on a solid path. “It was time to return to full-time game development,” he said.
In leaving Craig Mazin as the series’ lead, Druckmann is not pursuing a new job but is returning to his pivotal role at Naughty Dog, currently developing the new game titled “Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.”
Druckmann praised his colleagues at Naughty Dog for their roles while he worked on the series. He expressed appreciation for how well the team stepped up during his absence, allowing him to contribute significantly to the show.
In his interview, Druckmann also shared his excitement about the upcoming Emmys and expressed pride in the performances from Season 2. He plans to maintain a high-level involvement in “The Last of Us,” ensuring it remains true to the spirit of the source material while letting the creative team expand as they work on Season 3.
