Ava Harper
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Ava Harper
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Will The Last of Us HBO Continue Without a Third Game? Here’s What We Know
As a The Last of Us fan, I’ve been thinking a lot about the future of the HBO series. Season 1 was a masterpiece, faithfully adapting the first game while expanding on its world in ways that felt organic. With Season 2 set to bring The Last of Us Part II to life, there's excitement—but also an underlying question: what happens if there's no Part III?
Neil Druckmann, the creative mind behind The Last of Us, has been cryptic about a third game. In some interviews, he’s hinted that he has an idea for a potential sequel, but in others, he’s made it clear that the story isn’t guaranteed to continue. That uncertainty raises a big question for the HBO show—can it sustain itself if there's no new game to adapt?
The Games and Show Are Intertwined
One of the biggest reasons The Last of Us has worked so well as a show is because of how deeply connected it is to the source material. Season 1 followed the first game almost beat-for-beat, and while it did add extra depth to characters like Bill and Frank, it never strayed too far from the core story. This is part of why fans embraced it—it wasn’t just a show inspired by the game, it was the game, just in a different medium.
Season 2 is expected to do the same with Part II. Given the sheer length and complexity of that game, there's even speculation that HBO might stretch it into multiple seasons. But if the show catches up to the games and there’s no Part III, that’s when things get tricky.
Could the HBO Show Go Beyond the Games?
If we get to a point where the HBO series outpaces the game franchise, it would mean venturing into uncharted territory. Historically, this hasn’t always worked well. The most infamous example is Game of Thrones, which started as an adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s books but was forced to invent new storylines once it ran out of source material. The results? Well… let’s just say the fanbase still hasn’t recovered.
But here’s where The Last of Us might be different. Unlike Game of Thrones, where the showrunners had to guess where the books were heading, The Last of Us is still in the hands of Neil Druckmann. He co-writes the HBO series alongside Craig Mazin, meaning that even if the show were to continue past the games, it would still be guided by the person who created the story in the first place.
Druckmann has mentioned in interviews that he does have ideas for what a Part III could look like. So if the show had to move forward without a new game, it’s possible that those ideas could be adapted straight into the series instead. In that case, the show wouldn’t really be surpassing the games—it would just be telling the next chapter through television rather than a PlayStation controller.
What Do Fans Think?
Right now, the fanbase is divided on this. Some fans are totally on board with the idea of the show continuing with original material, especially if it means more time with beloved characters. Others, though, are more hesitant. There’s a belief that The Last of Us has always been a game-first franchise, and if there’s no Part III, maybe the story should simply end where the games leave it.
There’s also the question of how long HBO would even want to keep the show running. Prestige TV series rarely go on for more than five or six seasons, and since Season 2 is already covering Part II, they might only have one or two more seasons left before they naturally wrap things up.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, whether or not The Last of Us continues past the games depends on two things:
1- If Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin believe there's more story to tell.
2- If HBO sees enough demand to keep it going.
Personally, I think the HBO series has the potential to continue even if a third game never happens. But it has to be done carefully. The emotional weight and storytelling depth that The Last of Us is known for can't be sacrificed just to stretch out the show’s lifespan. If the creators feel like the story should end, then maybe it should end—no matter how much we’d love to see more.
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Ava Harper
Ava Harper is a sci-fi writer and enthusiast, passionate about exploring futuristic worlds and human innovation. When she's not writing, she’s immersed in classic sci-fi films and novels, always seeking the next great adventure in the cosmos.