Naughty Canine head Neil Druckmann is stepping away from inventive duties at The Final of Us collection on HBO to deal with the studio’s future initiatives. Druckmann, who helmed the primary two seasons of the present alongside Craig Mazin, will transition to engaged on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet full-time and fulfilling his tasks as studio head. The second season of The Final of Us premiered in April and wrapped up its seven-episode run in Could.
Neil Druckmann Departs The Final of Us Season 3
In a press release shared on X by way of Naughty Dog, Druckmann mentioned he was stepping away from inventive involvement with HBO’s The Last of Us, confirming he will not be returning to work on the third season of the favored present. Druckmann, who has govt producing, writing and directing credit on the primary two seasons of the present, mentioned the choice to step away was “tough”.
“I’ve made the tough choice to step away from my inventive involvement in The Final of Us on HBO. With work accomplished on Season 2 and earlier than any significant work begins on Season 3, now could be the precise time for me to transition my full focus to Naughty Canine and its future initiatives, together with writing and directing our thrilling subsequent sport, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, together with my tasks as Studio Head and Head of Inventive,” he mentioned within the assertion.
“Co-creating the present has been a profession spotlight. It has been an honor to work alongside Craig Mazin to govt produce, direct, and write on the final two seasons. I am deeply grateful for the considerate strategy and dedication the gifted forged and crew took to adapting The Final of Us Half I and the continued adaptation of The Final of Us Half II.”
In tandem with Druckmann’s choice, Haley Gross, who co-wrote The Last of Us Part 2 and served as a author on the second season of the present, additionally confirmed she was taking a step again from her duties on the latter. In a press release posted to Instagram Wednesday, Gross mentioned she was shifting on to “what comes subsequent”.
“With nice care and consideration, I’ve determined to take a step again from my day-to-day work on HBO’s The Final of Us to create space for what comes subsequent,” Gross mentioned within the assertion. “I am so appreciative of how particular this expertise has been. Working alongside Neil, Craig, HBO, and this outstanding forged and crew has been life altering. The tales we advised – about love, loss, and what it means to be human in a terrifying world – are precisely why I really like this franchise. I’ve some really rad initiatives forward that I can not wait to share, however for now, I wish to specific my gratitude to everybody who introduced Ellie and Joel’s world to life with such care.”
HBO’s The Final of Us has been renewed for a 3rd season, which will likely be primarily based on the second half of The Final of Us Half 2, with the first deal with Abby (performed by Kaitlyn Dever), who served as the principle antagonist within the second season. The present stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey within the lead roles of Joel and Ellie, respectively.
Naughty Canine is presently engaged on its subsequent sport, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, which was introduced at The Recreation Awards 2024.