The Last of Us Season 3: Extended Runtime, Continuity Guaranteed, and Abby’s Story Takes the Spotlight

Next month, The Last of Us could secure multiple Emmy Awards for the HBO original series. However, showrunner Craig Mazin is already concentrating on developing Season 3—while addressing fan concerns about the shorter runtime of Season 2.

Season 3 Will Have a Longer Runtime

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Mazin avoided confirming whether Season 3’s pacing will align with that of Season 2. However, he assured: “Season 3 will be longer than Season 2. Season 3 will be more in line with Season 1. More value for the audience.”

No Significant Creative Changes Despite Neil Druckmann’s Exit

Mazin addressed the departure of his former co-showrunner Neil Druckmann, who recently announced he would be stepping away from the series. Mazin stressed that Druckmann’s departure will not lead to a major shift in the show’s creative direction:

• “For the most part, I was essentially a monk writing in a room on my own anyway,” Mazin explained.
• He highlighted the strong collaborative groundwork established with Naughty Dog during Seasons 1 and 2—especially throughout the development of Season 2, when the team actively planned ahead to maintain narrative consistency: “When we worked on Season 2, we were already thinking about what comes next because you can’t truly tell half of that story without considering the full arc. So we made sure to lay that foundation.”
• Mazin also pointed out that Druckmann has always held a full-time leadership position at Naughty Dog, which meant Mazin often acted as the primary on-the-ground creative lead in Canada—where the production takes place. As such, “it’s pretty much business as usual moving forward.”

Abby’s Role Expands in Season 3, Played by Kaitlyn Dever

Laura Bailey, who provided the voice and motion capture for Abby in The Last of Us Part II, recently praised Kaitlyn Dever’s live-action performance as the character. Season 3 will focus on Abby’s storyline, significantly increasing Dever’s role. HBO has officially announced that Season 3 is set to debut in 2027.