Hit streaming show’s creator announces massive change

One of the most talked-about streaming hits of recent years will undergo a huge change in its next season, its creator has confirmed.

WARNING: The Last Of Us spoilers ahead.

The creators of the hit series The Last Of Us have confirmed that a huge change is in the works for season three, as the story shifts focus to a character who has had little screen time until now.

The post-apocalyptic series, adapted from the hugely popular video game of the same name, debuted in 2023 as a two-hander between stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, playing a surrogate.

But – and again, spoiler alert – the second episode of season two offered up a massive shock (at least for viewers not familiar with the game), as Pascal’s character Joel met a grisly end on-screen, leaving Ramsey’s character Ellie to go it alone.

Fans were shocked when Pedro Pascal’s character was killed off early in season two. Picture: Max

Ellie spent the rest of the season searching for Joel’s killer, Abby, played by Kaitlyn Dever.

Season two ended on a cliffhanger as Ellie finally found Abby, the screen fading to black during a violent shootout.

But then, the very last scene of the season seemed to suggest we won’t be seeing much of Ellie in season three, regardless of whether she lives or dies: A flashback to Abby’s character, several days earlier, as if to mark that the story will continue next season told through her perspective.

At an Emmys-hosted event to mark the end of the show’s second season this week, The Last Of Us co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann opened up about the controversy surrounding Joel’s death and hinted at what was still to come in the series.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Druckmann said there had already been several failed attempts to adapt the video game for the screen: “I think it was good to go on that journey to end up at HBO, end up at a place that leaned into those controversial decisions, I guess,” he said, referring to Pascal’s character’s brutal on-screen death.

Actress Kaitlyn Dever had a supporting role – now she’s been upgraded to star of the show. Picture: Daily Telegraph / Dylan Coker

Whether Ellie lives or dies, it seems we won’t see a whole lot of her next season.

“But the decisions are just what the story required, and even now, it’s like I can’t believe that they let us structure the series in this way. Meaning like we just ended season two, and season three is going to be starring — spoiler alert — Kaitlyn.”

That information appeared to be news to even actress Kaitlyn Dever herself, who was dialled in to the event remotely and reacted with joy and surprise at the news (watch her reaction in the video above).

Now we have confirmation that The Last Of Us season three will focus on Abby instead of Ellie, the next big question is when exactly it will air – or rather, how long we have to wait.

There was a gap of more than two years between the show’s initial, nine-episode season and its even shorter seven-episode second season.

GamesRadar+ reports that writing has not yet begun on season three, and fans can expect a similar two-year wait to see more of the show sometime in 2027.

Originally published as Hit streaming show’s creator announces massive change