Rumors point to The Last of Us ending after season three

According to unconfirmed reports, the post-apocalyptic series The Last of Us may end after its third season, despite showrunner Craig Mazin's initial plans for at least four seasons. HBO CEO Casey Bloys's comment that such decisions remain the responsibility of the show's creators was interpreted as an indirect confirmation of the franchise's possible end. This information comes amid the relatively muted reception of the second season compared to the cultural phenomenon that was the debut season.

The second season adapted approximately half of the plot of The Last of Us Part II, leaving significant material for a potential third season. However, a significant factor was the lack of direct involvement from the original game writers, Neil Druckmann and Haley Gross, in developing future storylines, as they are focused on their new project, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, at Naughty Dog. This could impact the narrative integrity and faithfulness to the source material in future seasons.

The final decision on the series' fate will likely be made after assessing the results of the third season and audience response.