The Last of Us Season 3 confirmed but it won’t repeat Game of Thrones’ worst mistake

HBO has greenlit The Last of Us Season 3, but showrunner Craig Mazin has already taken the opportunity to reassure fans it won’t repeat Game of Thrones’ biggest blunder and jump past the source material.

Season 2 of HBO’s wildly successful The Last of Us Adaptation hasn’t even kicked off yet, with Episode 1 set to premiere on April 13. Jumping ahead, however, HBO has already put a stop to any speculation, announcing Season 3 is indeed moving forward.

Fans assumed as much following the first season, as those involved suggested the story of Part 2 was too expansive to fit in a single season of television. Now, we know for certain the heartwrenching, post-apocalyptic tale will carry on with another batch of episodes.

While we’ve seen all of Season 2 and heaped praise on its masterfully painful run, we won’t get into specifics about what Season 3 could cover. What we do know for certain, though, is that it won’t, in any capacity, move ahead of the source material.

HBO greenlights The Last of Us Season 3

“Season 3 is coming,” HBO’s official Max account on X (formerly Twitter) confirmed on April 9. That’s all we have to go off for now, but clearly, those involved are eager to keep the story moving forward as soon as possible.

Given Season 1’s success not just commercially, becoming one of HBO’s most-watched productions ever, but critically as well, going on to win all manner of prestigious awards including a raft of Emmys– it’s a no-brainer HBO wants the show to continue.

Just how far the story goes, however, is still anyone’s guess. Based on early comments from showrunner Craig Mazin, Season 3 could very well be the end of the live-action adaptation, at least for the near future.

HBO’s The Last of Us series won’t repeat Game of Thrones’ mistake

As there are only two games, when you think of a third season, you might be a little concerned. Where will the story go, and will it pass the end of Part 2? Well, thankfully, we already have a clear answer to put those fears to rest.

Speaking with WatchinAmerica ahead of Season 2’s premiere, Mazin “flat out” assured he will “not go past the game” under any circumstance.

“The show is so hard to make. It has to have an end. So I’m not going to go past [the games].”

Of course, Game of Thrones came under immense scrutiny for its divisive final season as the series jumped ahead of George R.R. Martin’s incomplete novels.

While not closing the door fully on the potential for more live-action Last of Us stories, admitting there could be room for spinoffs not involving Joel, Ellie, or Abby, Mazin was adamant in saying the mainline series won’t advance beyond the end of the second game.

Season 2 takes some shocking turns, and if you’ve played the games, you know the story and what’s to come. Buckle up for at least one more season of utter devastation.