The Last of Us has been a major hit for HBO since its premiere in 2023, but the series is facing a creative change behind-the-scenes moving forward into Season 3. Neil Druckmann–the co-creator of The Last of Us video games and the co-showrunner of the series–has announced his departure from the show.
Naughty Dog shared the announcement on social media, noting that Druckmann is leaving The Last of Us to focus on his duties at the studio and to work on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, the next game from Naughty Dog.
— Naughty Dog (@Naughty_Dog) July 2, 2025
„Co-creating the show has been a career highlight,“ wrote Druckmann. „It’s been an honor to work alongside Craig Mazin to executive produce, direct and write on the last two seasons. I’m deeply thankful for the thoughtful approach and dedication the talented cast and crew took to adapting The Last of Us Part I and the continued adaptation of The Last of Us Part II.“