The Last of Us could end with a third season longer than the second

The HBO series based on The Last of Us has captivated millions of fans, but one of the biggest enigmas remains: how many seasons will it ultimately have? For years, producer and screenwriter Craig Mazin suggested it could be four, but recent statements seem to indicate the series could conclude with a longer third season.

"We're kind of tinkering with it... it's a trade secret for now," Mazin told The Hollywood Reporter . However, he did reveal that this third installment will be more extensive than the second , offering more content and wrapping up unfinished stories.

The second season of TLoU consisted of only seven episodes, while the first had nine. It ended with a fade to black in Seattle , following the meeting between Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and Abby (Kaitlyn Denver) , leaving many questions about how to continue the redemption story of Abby and her companion Lev.

The debate among fans centers on whether it's necessary to dedicate a full season to Abby and her journey , or whether it should be condensed into a longer installment that satisfactorily closes the entire narrative.

Mazin's statements suggest that the third season could fully address Abby's journey , her quest for redemption and protection of Lev, before culminating in Ellie returning to her farm and the resolution of the central conflict.

This reflects a different narrative strategy than the one initially planned, where the second season would have delved deeper into the lives of the residents of Jackson and the events of the video game TLoU: Part 2, generating a more intense cliffhanger that would have led to a fourth season dedicated to the epilogue.

The original script intended to fully explore Jackson , his characters, and the attack of the infected, while Abby and her allies brutally attacked Joel in front of Ellie. This option was scrapped, sparking debate among fans about whether extending the third season is enough to wrap up all the plotlines.

Despite this, Mazin assures that the production will remain faithful to the game's vision, even after the temporary departure of Neil Druckmann , the game's creator.

At this time, HBO hasn't confirmed the exact length or release date of the third season. TLoU fans should prepare for a longer run, hoping to see how Ellie and Abby's stories resolve, and whether the series will truly conclude its arc without the need for a fourth season.

Ultimately, The Last of Us remains a phenomenon of adaptive storytelling, where the extension of the third season could be enough to close the story, while fans speculate about the future of the series.