The Last of Us instantly became a huge success when it premiered on HBO earlier this year and it immediately garnered a second-season renewal. A lot of fans are now looking forward to the show's sophomore run which will adapt the story of the video game sequel.
However, the development of the second season has been slower than what fans are hoping for, especially since the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike has halted any work on the series.
Now, fans are wondering about when they can expect the new season to air.
The Last of Us Season 2 Release Window Revealed by HBO Drama Chief
In a recent interview with Deadline, HBO's head of drama Francesca Orci addressed the impact of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike on the release plans of their upcoming shows and new seasons.
Orci cautioned that it's "too early to tell" early for them to make any definitive scheduling plans, but she revealed that the second season of The Last of Us is most likely to premiere around 2025.
"We were looking at The Last Of Us for some time in 2025," she teased.
The executive further explained how they are currently approaching their release plans for the next few years where she expressed her hope that the strike will be solved soon.
"While everything at this moment is pencils down, I’m hopeful that we can come to terms sooner than later. Otherwise we will have to assess what is the end of the 24 schedule, what are the shows that are going to be delivered for 2025," Orci said.
"At this point, those shows that I’m looking to air wouldn’t necessarily be ready if this strike last six to nine months. So yes, that’s a big question for us, but I think we’ll cross that road once we come to it."
There is no doubt at this point that the current strike has caused some uncertainty about the upcoming releases in the network. However, it is an important issue that needs to be addressed and the writers will be able to have a fair deal.
What Can We Expect in Season 2?
Orci also discussed what they have in store for the second season of The Last of Us where she teased that the show will be taking a "big swing" and the relationship of Joel and Ellie will be explored even further.
"There will be a couple of new pieces of casting, which I can’t get into. And of course, there isn’t much that we can go into on The Last of Us, given that Craig can’t really initiate in any meaningful way from a writing or casting standpoint," she said.
"But he and Neil have a good sense of what it is that he’s going to be taking on. We’ll be moving the show from Calgary to Vancouver."
The executive teased, "All I can say is he’s taking a big swing from both an entertainment standpoint, related to the clickers, but also just the more nuanced, complex character dynamic between our characters, Joel, Ellie and beyond."
Regarding the possibility of getting a third season, Orci played coy in her response and she pointed to showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann as the people who have the answers to the question.
"I think Craig and Neil are still figuring out where they’re going to come to an end. We have loosely heard that there will be a Season 3 idea for the series, but at this point, we’re taking it one season at a time," she said.
"There’s no guarantee at this point that we’ll have a Season 3 but I know that they both have a vision for Season 3. Whether that lends itself to doing more [seasons], I don’t know yet."
While the second season is still years away, it is exciting nonetheless to hear these details as it looks like fans have a lot to look forward to in Joel and Ellie's next adventure.
Considering the unexpected direction that The Last of Us Part II took in its story, it is also interesting to see how they will tackle it and whether it will spread into a single-season arc.
Also Read: Craig Mazin Says The Last of Us Season 2 Will 'Move The Bar Up'
For now, you can catch the first season of The Last of Us on Max. You can check more details about it here.