HBO’s The Last of Us TV series writer and showrunner, Craig Mazin, anticipates fan uproar over the plot developments in Season 2. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Mazin acknowledged that fans usually react strongly to changes, starting with casting decisions. He cited the backlash against Bella Ramsey’s casting as Ellie as an example, noting that fans eventually saw why she was the right choice.
Quick Facts
- Season 2 of The Last of Us will feature plot points that “shock people”
- Storylines in the show may differ from those in the game
- Production delays are expected due to the ongoing writers’ strike and potential actors’ strike
Mazin revealed that Season 2 will include shocking plot points and, like Season 1, will have storylines that were not present in the game. He emphasized that the show’s creators are not trying to generate shock for the sake of it, but are focused on telling the story as they believe it should be told.
Season 2 is likely to adapt some events from Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us: Part II, potentially including the character Abby and a significant character death. Mazin is aware that fans of the game series were vocal about their reactions to the sequel, with developers and voice actors even receiving death threats.
Addressing fan feedback, Mazin stated that he is only trying to do what is right for the story, regardless of whether or not people like it. He said, “We don’t operate to either make people happy on social media or avoid making them upset. We just do what we think is right, and we hope that people come along for the ride and enjoy it.”
Production on Season 2 is expected to take longer than anticipated due to the ongoing writers’ strike and the possibility of an actors’ strike. Season 2 was initially planned for release in 2025, but the length of the delay is uncertain. Craig Mazin is no longer involved with Lionsgate’s Borderlands movie, and Naughty Dog is moving forward with a new single-player game while scaling back The Last of Us multiplayer project.
