The Last of Us showrunners explain Season 1’s cliffhanger ending

The HBO adaptation of the Naughty Dog video game The Last of Us successfully completed its first season, and it was a roaring success. It broke a number of records on Sunday, when the season finale aired, surpassing the likes of House of The Dragon in terms of overall viewership. With the show being renewed for a second season, fans are already looking forward to more Cordyceps-infested action!

How much time will it take to film The Last of Us Season 2?

The Last of Us showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann recently chatted with GQ Magazine after the finale of Season 1 aired on Sunday and talked about the upcoming season and the cliffhanger finale. They hinted that the second season was going to take at least two years to film, with Mazin teasing the fans saying, “I’m okay with that. That’s the anger of desire and anticipation.”

Why season 1 of The Last of Us ended with a cliffhanger?

Druckmann explained the finale in the same interview, “Obviously, there’s the moral kind of ambiguity of that decision: are people still rooting for Joel as he’s lying to Ellie’s face? But when we made the game, and that ending hit, no one knew if we’re gonna make another game. So I think it was easier for people to accept it’s not a cliffhanger, it’s a proper ending. Here, they might say ‘Oh, you left us with a cliffhanger’ as they know season two is coming. So that’ll be interesting to see if that means people have a different reaction. “

When does The Last of Us Season 2 begin filming?

In a recent interview with Collider, Pascal said, “In the year 2023? Oh, what season are we in now? We’re getting into spring? Yes, there is a chance. Yes.” The first season of The Last of Us took around 18 months to film. So, looking at the time gap, there’s a high probability that the second season won’t be here until 2025.

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