‘The Last of Us’ Co-Creator Neil Druckmann Exits HBO Series

One of many masterminds behind The Final of Us, HBO’s hit zombie collection primarily based on the online game franchise of the identical identify, is leaving the present.

Calling it a “tough determination,” Neil Druckmann will exit The Final of Us forward of the collection’ third season. In a press release addressing his departure, Druckmann mentioned:

I’ve made the tough determination 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’s the appropriate time for me to transition my full focus to Naughty Canine and its future tasks, together with writing and directing our thrilling subsequent recreation, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, together with my obligations as Studio Head and Head of Inventive.

Druckmann, who’s the studio head at online game developer Naughty Canine, co-developed the 2013 action-adventure-horror survival recreation The Final of Us in addition to its 2020 sequel, The Final of Us Half II — the latter of which Season 2 of the HBO collection is predicated on.

The sport developer-turned-showrunner referred to as engaged on the HBO collection a “profession spotlight,” including:

It’s been an honor to work alongside Craig Mazin to government produce, direct and write on the final two seasons. I’m deeply grateful of the considerate method and dedication the gifted forged and crew took to adapting The Final of Us Half I and their continued adaptation of The Final of Us Half II. I sit up for HBO and PlayStation Productions persevering with Ellie and Abby’s story subsequent season.

Druckmann conceived the tv present alongside co-creator Craig Mazin, who additionally labored on 2019’s Chernobyl. Mazin will proceed because the collection’ sole showrunner for Season 3, whereas Druckmann will retain his co-creator and government producer credit.

READ MORE: The Final of Us Already Renewed for Season 3

“It’s been a inventive dream to work with Neil and convey an adaptation of his sensible work to life on HBO. I couldn’t have requested for a extra beneficiant inventive associate. As a real fan of Naughty Canine and Neil’s work in video video games, I’m past excited to play his subsequent recreation. Whereas he focuses on that, I’ll proceed to work with our sensible forged and crew to ship the present our viewers has come to count on,” Mazin mentioned in a press release relating to his co-director’s exit.

Premiering on HBO in 2023, The Final of Us follows a hardened man named Joel who’s tasked with transporting a younger, immune woman named Ellie throughout a zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America in a bid to probably save humanity from the fungal pandemic that is ravaged it.

Season 1 of the dystopian drama collection was a smash hit, incomes a 96 p.c ranking on Rotten Tomatoes and drawing one of many largest audiences for an HBO and Max season debut ever, in keeping with Deadline.

Season 2, which premiered this previous April and aired its finale on Could 25, was additionally successful however much less well-received than its predecessor, drawing decrease scores and a decline in viewership over the season.

A 3rd season of The Final of Us was greenlit in early April, simply days previous to the HBO collection’ premiere of Season 2.