If you’ve been wondering what’ll become of Ellie and Dina after those fateful few postgame moments that closed out Part II, it sounds like Naughty Dog is thinking the same thing. That comes from none other than Naughty Dog creative director Neil Druckmann himself, who recently shared at the Script Apart podcast that he and TLOU2 writing collaborator Halley Gross ( Westworld) have devised how the next chapter will unfold. When that day comes, The Last of Us Part III (or whatever we’ll be calling it) will already have a big head start, because the overall plot of the potential sequel has already been sketched out. With The Last of Us ending 2020 with so much momentum as one of PlayStation’s strongest franchises, it feels all but inevitable that Naughty Dog would dive back in for third installment - at least at some point. TLOU2’s polarizing plot and handling of key characters created plenty of buzz when the game released for the PS4, but that definitely didn’t keep it from flying off the shelves or mute the legion of critics who adored its mature story, well-integrated gameplay, and mind-blowing graphics. But when The Last of Us Part II debuted last June, Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic sequel sold hordes of copies, lit up the gaming awards circuit, and spurred a critical mass in the pop culture zeitgeist that’s since led to a big-budget live action series at HBO. Some viewers cited Episode 3 as the series' best, largely for its focus on the homosexual romance between Bill and Frank, while others wrote it off as filler for Joel and Ellie's lack of screentime.The Last of Us was already franchise-making material for Sony before the second installment in Joel and Ellie’s ill-fated adventures ever arrived. As an example, Mazin brought up the divisive reception towards Episode 3 of the show. Well that, I suppose, is preferable to the worst possible outcome, which is indifference,' said the showrunner. 'To the extent that the storylines move people to rage, confusion, or disappointment or anger. Mazin also chimed in, explaining that any kind of response, be it positive or negative, is better than boredom.

'So how do we make the best TV show version of that story? That's the problem that we wrestle with every day.' The Last of Us Is Anything But Dull

'How they react is how they react, that is completely outside of our control,' Druckmann said. Related: The Last of Us Showrunner Explains Joel's Shocking Choice in the Season 1 Finaleīefore confirming a Season 3 of The Last of Us, Mazin and Druckmann discussed the negative reception a portion of video game players had towards The Last of Us Part II and how it might influence the TV show.

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