‘The Last of Us’ Showrunner Teases Controversial Season 2

'You are asked to split your loyalties'

The Last of Us HBO Bella Ramsey Pedro Pascal

The Last of Us was a surprise hit for HBO when it landed on Max in January, being one of the few widely beloved videogame adaptations. However, showrunner Craig Mazin teases that season 2 may serve as a much more controversial story.

The Last of Us Part II seemed to split the fanbase of the series, with many praising it as even better than the first game, while others claiming it ruined the legacy of an once-great project. It seems as though showrunner Craig Mazin is leaning into this controversy with season 2 of the HBO adaptation, teasing the uniqueness of forcing viewers to split their loyalties.

“I think that the beauty of the second game is that it takes the question of the first game and pushes it even further, where you don’t have to wonder if someone is doing the right thing because you are asked to split your loyalties.” He told the Happy Sad Confused podcast before later concluding “It is a controversial story for a lot of people and all the good ones are.”

Much of the controversy for The Last of Us Part II stemmed from some a few deaths and what many people would argue is a retcon of the ambiguous nature of the Fireflies in the first game. It doesn’t seem like the HBO show will tackle the most controversial elements of that game, at least in season 2, but it does seem like Craig Mazin is confident in being able to harness the main themes of the story once the project finally enters production.

What you need to know about The Last of Us

Developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, The Last of Us centers on the relationship between a smuggler named Joel Miler and 14-year-old Ellie Williams, the latter of whom may be the key to curing the deadly pandemic that resulted in the post-apocalypse world of the game. Hired to smuggle Ellie out of a quarantine zone, Joel finds himself relying on the teenage girl just as much as she relies on him as they fight to survive on their journey across the United States.

The Last of Us has been officially renewed for a second season by HBO, with production expected to kick off later this year. Its season one cast also includes Pedro Pascal, Anna Torv, Nico Parker, Murray Bartlett, Nick Offerman, Storm Reid, Jeffrey Pierce, Lamar Johnson, Keivonn Woodard, Graham Greene, Elaine Miles, Melanie Lynskey, Rutina Wesley, Brad Leland, Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson.

Stay tuned for all the latest news surrounding The Last of Us and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content.

Anthony Singletary

Anthony Singletary

Anthony has always had a love for stories. An aspiring screenwriter and video editor, he takes pride in connecting fans with the latest heroic news!