'The Last of Us' Season 3 Will Fix One of the Season 2's Most Controversial Changes

Fans of The Last of Us are still fierce supporters of the series, but there was one thing about the critically acclaimed show that they didn't like one bit in Season 2. After waiting more than two years for a new batch of episodes, fans were frustrated that the show doled out fewer episodes than Season 1. It looks like this won't happen again, though. During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, series showrunner Craig Mazin spoke about several elements of the upcoming Season 3, including its episode count.

During the interview, Mazin talked about his creative process for the new episodes but wasn't specific about any events that we can look forward to. When talking about the episode count, the showrunner and writer commented that one of the reasons why Season 2 was shorter is because most of its timeline "is really about three days." He confirmed that Season 3 will be longer but was careful with his words. He stated:

"We’re kind of fiddling around with that — it’s a little bit of a trade secret at the moment. But I will say that season three will be longer than season two. Season three will be more on par with season one. More bang for the buck. "

Who Is Returning for 'The Last of Us' Season 3?

Image via HBO

After dealing with a major loss early in Season 2, fans know that the series is making room for new and important characters to take part in the survival story. The show has paraded some A-list guest stars, including Melanie Lynskey (Yellowjackets), Catherine O'Hara (Schitt's Creek), Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction), Anna Torv (Mindhunter), Storm Reid (Euphoria), Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation), and many others. From the looks of it, Season 3 won't be any different. Mazin commented that the great thing about the series being massively popular and acclaimed is that it's not difficult to get notable guest stars: "There’s an understanding they’re going to get something juicy to do."

Since the new season is still in the writing phase, it's too early to know who is joining the cast. For now, however, it's safe to say that the story will continue to follow Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Abby (Kaitlin Dever) as they try to survive and find humanity in a world plagued by a deadly virus. Mazin will handle the story after the shocking departure of co-creator Neil Druckmann and series writer Halley Gross.