The Last of Us Season 2 ended on a tumultuous note that shocked and left the audience hanging. This installment has been very controversial since the beginning, killing off prominent characters like Pedro Pascal’s Joel and descending into further violence.
The sequel concluded after seven episodes, and with such a cliffhanger ending, fans have been wondering if there’s a third installment. With Pascal unlikely to return, it would be a massive undertaking for the series creators to come up with a story strong enough to stand on its own without the actor’s star power.
We know you are eager to know more, so here are five things we know about the upcoming season:
1. The Last of Us has been renewed for Season 3
The Last of Us Season 3 is not canceled, especially after what happened in the season finale. It needs a follow-up story as the fate of every living character remains unclear. Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann have been secretive about the renewal and what it would tackle next, although they have confirmed that it is officially happening.
2. Season 3 will explore Abby’s story
Fans of the video game would already sense that the upcoming installment will adapt the rest of The Last of Us II. This means we are getting the point of view of Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby during the three chaotic days in Seattle.
Mazin revealed to Entertainment Weekly that “there is another side to this story that we have yet to really delve into,” hinting that Abby believes she is the hero of her own story. He also teased that Season 3 will focus on one character, and fans of the video games may already have an idea at this point.
3. There might be an additional season
With such a vast lore, it’s hard to condense the story into three seasons. This is why Mazin and Druckmann already hinted in 2024 that they might expand the series to a four-part saga. “We don’t think that we’re going to be able to tell the story even within two seasons,” Mazin revealed to Deadline before adding: “The story may require Season 4.”
4. The upcoming season might arrive in 2027
There is no premiere date for Season 3 as of yet, but if it follows the same timeline and progress as the previous installment, production may commence in 2026 and arrive in 2027. Isabela Merced also revealed in a conversation with Variety that filming should start “next year.”
However, it’s also important to note that the first two seasons were affected by the pandemic and the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, so if there’s no delay this year, we might get Season 3 as early as late next year.
5. Pedro Pascal’s Joel may not be entirely gone
Many are still upset about Joel’s grisly death, but he may not be completely out of the show. His influence in the story may still play out through a series of flashbacks or mentions from characters like Ellie or Abby.
While there had been confusion online about the show getting canceled, it is far from being axed since it remains highly popular. As the showrunners mentioned, it would need more episodes to completely tell the story.
The Last of Us is currently available to watch on Max.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
