The Last of Us creator teases season 2 is 'ready to go' and responds to anticipation for third game
The Last of Us season 2 is ready to spread like a fungal virus whenever the ongoing Hollywood strikes end, co-creator Neil Druckmann tells EW.
"My job is really strange, I'm given feedback on this theme park thing, I'm working on the TV show, and I'm working on another game, so I'm just kind of jumping around on different projects," the Naughty Dog game developer boss says on location at Universal Orlando Resort, where a Halloween Horror Nights haunted walkthrough attraction based on his game series is set to open Friday night.
Joey Nolfi for EW Neil Druckmann and Mike Aiello on 'The Last of Us' Halloween Horror Nights walkthrough at Universal Studios Orlando
Though the terrifying attraction is based entirely on the game series, Druckmann, joined by Mike Aiello, a senior director at Universal Creative, teases that "there's cool stuff in there" potentially hinting at where season 2 of the TV show might head.
"We've outlined all of season 2 and we're ready to go as soon as the strike ends," says Druckmann.
When asked about a long-awaited third video game in The Last of Us series, he smiles. "As far as the next game at Naughty Dog, I can't say anything," he says. "My comms director over there will slaughter me."
Liane Hentscher/HBO Pedro Pascal's Joel and Bella Ramsey's Ellie in that climactic scene from 'The Last of Us' season finale
The PlayStation video game franchise (first released in 2013) and its subsequent HBO TV series adaptation both follow a man named Joel who, after the world is overrun by mutated humans infected by a vicious fungus, bonds with a young girl, Ellie, as he escorts her across the ravaged United States upon discovering she holds the key to a potential cure.
Universal Orlando Resort's walkthrough — featuring new dialogue from OG video game stars Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson — centers on locales not featured in the TV show, including the the Pittsburgh Quarantine Zone and the Hotel Grand. Visitors will also navigate subterranean tunnels, where they'll encounter fearsome foes like Runners, Bloaters, Stalkers, and Clickers, as well as hostile human adversaries.
Joey Nolfi for EW 'The Last of Us' Halloween Horror Nights walkthrough at Universal Studios Orlando
After debuting in January, The Last of Us series — starring Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie — quickly became one of the buzziest shows of the year, with viewership growing virtually every week on the premium network. The project wasn't only popular with audiences, as the TV Academy bestowed 25 Emmy nominations upon the show, including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama for Pascal, and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama for Ramsey.
Joey Nolfi for EW 'The Last of Us' Halloween Horror Nights walkthrough at Universal Studios Orlando
In a recent interview with EW, showrunner Craig Mazin confirmed that he'd already outlined season 2 of the show before Hollywood's writers and actors went on strike.
"We were able to map out all of season 2. And I also wrote and submitted the script for the first episode and sent it in [to HBO] around 10:30 or 10:40 p.m. right before the midnight [makes a "kajoomph" sound] and the [WGA] strike began," Mazin said, later adding: "I think it's becoming essentially a near certainty that we won't be able to start [filming] when we were hoping to start, which is upsetting. We are all raring to go. This is what we are born to do. This is how we not only choose to live our lives, but I believe [how we] are compelled to live our lives. Otherwise, why the hell would we do this insane job? I can assure you it's not for money."
Joey Nolfi for EW 'The Last of Us' Halloween Horror Nights walkthrough at Universal Studios Orlando
See EW's exclusive images from Universal Orlando Resort's The Last of Us walkthrough attraction — now operating at Halloween Horror Nights on select dates through Nov. 4.
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