Neil Druckmann Is Leaving ‘The Last Of Us’ Season 3, Craig Mazin Goes Solo
BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, JUL 2 – Neil Druckmann is stepping down as co-showrunner to focus on Naughty Dog's upcoming sci-fi game, while Craig Mazin will lead The Last of Us HBO series solo for Season 3 and beyond.
- Neil Druckmann announced on July 2, 2025, that he is stepping away from his creative role on HBO's The Last of Us before season 3 begins production.
- Druckmann made this decision to focus fully on Naughty Dog Studios and to write and direct their next game, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
- Druckmann co-created The Last of Us video games and served as showrunner alongside Craig Mazin for the first two acclaimed seasons adapting Parts I and II.
- The HBO adaptation has won eight Emmy Awards and Druckmann called co-creating the show a career highlight while praising Mazin's continuation of the story.
- With Druckmann's exit, Mazin will lead season 3 focusing on Abby, while Druckmann stays as executive producer and the series is expected to run at least two more seasons.
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Emmy-winning HBO drama loses co-creator ahead of Season 3
Neil Druckmann, co-creator of HBO’s “The Last of Us,” has announced he will step back from the hit series before Season 3. He plans to focus on leading Naughty Dog and developing a new science fiction game.
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