Why Showrunner Neil Druckmann Leaving HBO's 'The Last of Us' Is Amazing News for Game Fans

The Last of Us went through a major creative shakeup behind the scenes, as Neil Druckmann and Hailey Gross both departed the series ahead of Season 3. Normally, this would be cause for alarm, since in addition to creating The Last of Us video games Druckmann served as a co-showrunner on the HBO series, helping translate key moments from the game to the screen. The same could be said for Gross, who helped write The Last of Us Part II — aka the game that shaped the events of The Last of Us Seasons 2-3. It's rare that a game's creator is so involved in the adaptation process, so Druckmann departing HBO's The Last of U seems like it would be a major loss...at first. Instead, it could prove to be a great creative shakeup for the series, and for Druckmann himself.

'The Last of Us' Works Best When It Expands on the Game

One of the reasons The Last of Us hooked fans of the games and newcomers alike is in its dedication to replicating the events of the game, down to key dialogue and sequences. However, the best part of the series is when it expands upon the world of the games, or focuses on characters that aren't Joel (Pedro Pascal) or Ellie (Bella Ramsey). A great example is the stellar Season 1 episode "Long, Long Time", which centers on Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett) as they form a relationship in the years following the Cordyceps outbreak. Not only is "Long, Long Time" a beautiful examination of how people can find love even in the worst of times, but it shows how the outbreak's affected others. Season 2 repeated this with "Day One", recapping the events that led Isaac (Jeffrey Wright) to join the WLF, while also exploring how the war between the WLF and the Seraphites is slowly taking its toll on all involved.

"Long, Long Time" and "Day One" were both written by Craig Mazin, who's slated to become the sole showrunner following Druckmann's departure. Mazin has a gift for writing character-driven stories that expand upon a series' premise; prior to The Last of Us, he penned Chernobyl, which offered a chilling look into the fallout of the Chernobyl disaster. Mazin's showcased that he can stay close to the events of the Last of Us games while also building out its world in unexpected ways. Druckmann's departure apparently won't change things, as Mazin revealed that he spent most of his writing time by himself. "Neil’s always had a full-time job running Naughty Dog, so it’s always been me up in Canada [where the production is], and, ultimately, things are pretty much going to proceed as usual," Mazin told The Hollywood Reporter.

Neil Druckmann Can Start Delivering Other Games That Match 'The Last of Us'

Though Neil Druckmann won't be writing for The Last of Us, he hasn't left video games behind. He's currently working at Naughty Dog Studios to develop the sci-fi action adventure Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Details about Intergalactic are sparse, but it will feature a bounty hunter struggling to survive on a remote planet while tracking down a crime syndicate. Intergalactic will also feature multiple Last of Us alums; Druckmann is co-writing the game while Tati Gabrielle, who played WLF soldier Nora in The Last of Us Season 2, will play Jordan. Naughty Dog also has a whole library of video games that could serve as inspiration for film or television adaptations; its highly popular Uncharted franchise served as the basis for a feature film starring Gabrielle, Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg. By focusing on new titles for Naughty Dog, Druckmann can create new stories while also leaving The Last of Us in Mazin's more-than-capable hands.