Daniel Knox
Get ready, fans of The Last of Us! The series co-creator, Neil Druckmann, has hinted at a tantalizing possibility. In the recently released feature-length documentary, Grounded II: Making The Last of Us Part II, Druckmann teases that he has a concept for a third installment of the critically acclaimed series.
In this intriguing documentary (which you can view below), Druckmann clears up a misunderstanding about a quote he made. He had mentioned that Naughty Dog had penned a story set after The Last of Us II, featuring Tommy Miller, Joel’s younger brother. However, he clarifies, “The headlines across the industry were like, ‘Naughty Dog has outlined The Last of Us Part III.’ That’s not accurate. It was always a small story, never intended to be a full title.”
“At that time, we had bigger fish to fry at Naughty Dog, like improving our pipeline and addressing work-life balance issues. Given the circumstances, I didn’t want to prioritize this story, so it was put on the back burner. But I still believe it will see the light of day. Whether it will be a game or a show… that remains to be seen.”
Druckmann also delves into the theme of love that permeates the two games. “The first game beautifully encapsulates the unconditional love a parent has for their child. The second one explores the pursuit of justice at any cost, especially for the ones you love. There’s a clear concept and a through-line from the first game about love. If we never get to do it again, this is a satisfactory ending point. The story feels complete.”
But hold on, there’s more! Druckmann reveals that he has a “concept” for a third entry in the series. He describes it as “as thrilling as I, as captivating as II, and yet it’s its own unique thing, with a through-line connecting all three.” Whether Naughty Dog will transform this concept into a full game remains a tantalizing question.
In other news, The Last of Us Part II Remastered hit the shelves this past January for the PlayStation 5. And for those eagerly awaiting the HBO adaptation of the series, Catherine O’Hara (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) has been announced as a new addition to the cast for Season 2.
