The Last of Us showrunner Craig Mazin has said he is open to spin-offs expanding the show's post-apocalyptic world so long as they make sense and are given the same care as the flagship HBO series.
Mazin told The Wrap he and Neil Druckmann have not discussed any potential spin-offs because they are pouring all their time and energy into the main series but said he would be happy for someone else to expand the on-screen universe.
"We haven't talked about that specifically because we're so focused on just telling this main narrative. I'm not against the idea of other shows that may draw from these characters or that world," Mazin said.
"I don't know how much more 'The Last of Us' I personally would be able to do. I mean, these shows are so big, I'm sort of burning one of the precious few remaining decades I have on telling this story. But in principle, I have no issue with it whatsoever. And I'm sure Neil would be interested as well.
"If there was something that made sense, then I don't see why not," he added. "My great hope is that if there is anything like that, that it's done with as much care and respect and love as what we are applying to this series right now."
The Last of Us hit the ground running at the start of the year, achieving HBO's second-best debut of the last decade. The series averaged 30.4 million viewers across its first six episodes, and its highly anticipated finale brought in the largest audience of the season — though lead star Pedro Pascal was not amongst them.
HBO officially renewed the series for a second season in January, and development was ramping up before the dual strikes from the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and Writers Guild of America (WGA) brought most of Hollywood's productions to a standstill.
Mazin confirmed he had finished writing the first episode of Season 2 right before screenwriters downed tools, and he remained hopeful that they could stick to a 2025 release date. However, the actors' and writers' strikes continue to strike with no end in sight, as the unions have not yet reached an agreement with the studios.
When Season 2 of The Last of Us eventually hits screens, it might not be what people expect. Mazin and Druckmann have previously said the upcoming season will feature moments that are "radically different" from the game and will likely have much more action and more infected, with multiple types of infected emerging.
Mazin has also teased that Part II will take "more than a season's worth of television", implying they will split the sequel into two or more seasons, which will be a big difference from the show's first season telling the entire story of the original game. It's hard to predict, but we've had a go at plotting a rough outline of Season 2.
Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.
source https://www.ign.com/articles/the-last-of-us-showrunner-isnt-against-spin-offs-if-they-make-sense