The Last of Us season 2 will have fewer episodes than season 1, and here's why

The premiere date of The Last of Us season 2 is slowly inching closer, with series co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann recently chatting with Deadline to tease some more information about the sophomore season and the potential future of the show.

On the positive side, the duo envisions the hit HBO show running potentially three, maybe even four, seasons, meaning we likely have many years to come for the series. But season 2, at least, will be shorter than season 1, with just seven episodes versus the nine-episode first season.

As fans of the video games know, the series is gearing up for one of the most heart-wrenching and dramatic moments, one that is sure to shock viewers with no idea what to expect.

That said, the pair also sought to put fans' minds at ease, noting that they won't be covering the entire Part II story in season 2. The shorter episode count is because they're putting more time into telling these stories rather than less, hence why they are likely to spend multiple seasons covering the Part II storyline.

"The story that we’re telling is much bigger than the story of Season 1, there’s just a lot more going on, it’s a lot harder to produce but we want every episode to feel like its own blockbuster to be honest with you."

- Craig Mazin

Season 2 is focused on a theme of revenge, or, as Druckmann says, "it’s a continuation of love from the first season, and this is just the dark side of that coin."

The Last of Us will not go behind its source material

They seem to have learned from HBO's previous hit show, Game of Thrones, that it's better to stick to the source material. Mazin and Druckmann plan to carefully cover the second game's story and relevant material, but they won't go too far out of the confines of the games.

Mazin says the show will wander "down interesting new paths, unseen stories that were told within the context of that games material.” That makes sense since season 1 included an acclaimed episode focused entirely on Bill and Frank's story and an installment centered around the Left Behind DLC.

A third game in the franchise could happen in the future, but for now, the showrunners are focused on making great television out of the first two.

"As a fan, I’m thrilled that there might be a third 'Last of Us' game. As the co-creator of this television show, there’s no world where I would want our show to go beyond the source material that people have in the world."

- Craig Mazin

The Last of Us season 2 will premiere in 2025. To stay up to date on thrillers, sci-fi, and horror, bookmark 1428 Elm and follow our Facebook page and Twitter account!