The Last of Us franchise has kind of become a cultural landmark. The franchise, launched first as a game in 2013 by Naughty Dog, has become known for emotionally devastating storytelling, nuanced characters, and brutal world-building.
But with The Last of Us Part II having tied up many of its loose ends, fans have one burning question… will there ever be a The Last of Us Part III?
Neil Druckmann, co-creator and director of the franchise, recently addressed the possibility of a third video game on the Sacred Symbols podcast. While he didn’t confirm a third game is in the works, he didn’t shut the door either. He said:
“So, if we were ever to come back to it, I want to make sure it’s a story worthy of The Last of Us. I love that world, I love these characters. With the right opportunity, with the right idea — yeah, I would totally jump at it.”
Of course it has to be a worthy story. It’s easy to understand why he’s cautious. Between the games and the show, the story has already hit some powerfully resonant notes.
In the first game (and Season 1 of the series), we followed Joel and Ellie across a ravaged America, culminating in Joel’s infamous decision to rescue Ellie from the Fireflies by force, killing the only surgeon who might’ve saved the world.
The Last of Us Part II (now adapted across Seasons 2 and 3 of the show) picks up five years later, only to tear everything apart. Joel’s violent past catches up with him, Ellie sets off on a revenge journey that spirals into tragedy, and by the end, we get something that felt like the end.
Which makes Druckmann’s restraint refreshing. The creative temptation to revisit beloved characters is strong, especially when there’s a devoted audience already in place. But Druckmann’s hesitation suggests he’s not interested in retreading emotional beats or squeezing more out of a story that already said what it needed to.
They could always tell a whole new story set in that world with different characters in a different location. That could be interesting.
What would you like to see from the franchise in the future?
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