Amidst Hollywood strikes, HBO's The Last of Us eyes 2025 return

The Last of Us Season 2's narrative is expected to delve into The Last of Us Part 2, with its showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, the latter of which is the franchise's co-creator, having already mapped out multiple seasons and even submitted the script for the first episode prior to the strikes. This preparatory work proves that production is all ready to commence as soon as the Hollywood industry stabilizes once the strikes are over.

Much to the celebration of fans, HBO has teased the introduction of a pivotal character from the game sequel, Abby, a role laced with controversy and complexity, further heightening anticipation. While the exact casting for Abby remains under wraps, her presence will undeniably infuse the second season with a fresh narrative dynamism.

Bloys, aware of the stakes and the fanbase's eagerness, conveyed a mixture of pragmatism and optimism. With plans in place for alternatve schedules should the strike take longer, HBO is prepared for eventualities. Still, HBO remains hopeful, with Bloys emphasizing the network's desire for everyone involved to return to work happily.

In the interim, HBO is not leaving its audience in a lurch, with a plethora of programming slated for 2024. These include the return of House of the Dragon in early summer, and other acclaimed series such as True Detective: Night Country, Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 12, The Sex Lives of College Girls Season 3, Hacks Season 3, and Industry Season 3, ensuring that the network remains at the forefront of compelling storytelling.

Despite the setbacks, the network's foresight and planning ensure that once the proverbial dust settles, Joel and Ellie's harrowing journey will continue to captivate audiences worldwide.

In the meantime, The Last of Us fans can look forward to updates regarding the delayed multiple spin-off. Many reports claim that it's either been "put on ice" or canceled, which would be in line with Sony's recent pivot from its ambitious live service plans, a possible fact proven by Bungie's recent layoffs. Finally, it's believed that The Last of Us Part 2 is getting a PS5 and PC port.