Neil Druckmann has decided to reduce his involvement with HBO's "The Last of Us" to concentrate on projects at Naughty Dog

Neil Druckmann of Naughty Dog has revealed his decision to step back from his involvement with HBO’s adaptation of "The Last of Us." Through a post on social media, Druckmann indicated it is an appropriate moment to redirect his efforts toward upcoming endeavors at Naughty Dog, specifically the project "Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet."

According to Druckmann, "Having wrapped up season 2 and with substantial work on season 3 yet to commence, this is an ideal time to shift my undivided attention toward Naughty Dog's future projects. This includes scriptwriting and directing 'Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet,' as well as fulfilling my duties as studio head and head of creative."

Reflecting on his time on the show, he mentioned, "Co-creating the show has been one of the highlights of my career. The opportunity to collaborate with Craig Mazin in executive producing, directing, and writing over the past two seasons has been an honor."

He expressed gratitude saying, "I'm deeply grateful for the thoughtful and dedicated effort by the talented team in translating 'The Last of Us Part 1' and in continuing the adaptation of 'The Last of Us Part 2.'"

Halley Gross, who served as executive producer and writer, also announced her departure on Instagram. Gross, who co-authored "The Last of Us Part 2" with Druckmann, stated, "After much thought, I have decided to step back from my regular duties on HBO's 'The Last of Us' to create room for future ventures."

She further added, "This experience has been extraordinary. Collaborating with Neil, Craig, HBO, and this amazing cast and crew has changed my life. The narratives we created—centered around themes of love, loss, and humanity in a perilous world—are precisely why this franchise is so dear to me."

Gross conveyed her enthusiasm for her upcoming projects, saying, "I am excited about the new projects I have lined up and look forward to sharing them soon, but for now, I want to thank everyone who brought Ellie and Joel's story to life with so much passion."

Reacting to their departures, Craig Mazin, the showrunner for "The Last of Us," expressed his appreciation stating, "I am thankful to Neil and Halley for trusting us with this remarkable story." He remarked, "Collaborating with Neil in bringing the adaptation of his exceptional work to life on HBO has been a creative dream come true," according to Variety.

"I've had a truly generous creative partner in Neil. As an avid fan of Naughty Dog and his work in video games, I am eagerly awaiting his next game. While he pursues that, I'll continue working with our talented cast and crew to produce the kind of show our audience expects," Mazin added.

"We are equally appreciative to Neil and Halley for trusting us with the captivating tale of 'The Last of Us Part 2' and to the millions of viewers worldwide who tune in," he further commented.

The renewal of "The Last of Us" by HBO for a third season came ahead of its second season debut in April. The show's second season ratings saw a 10% increase, drawing 5.3 million viewers for its opening episode.

The idea to adapt "The Last of Us" into a television series was initially announced in 2020, marking PlayStation Productions’ first undertaking in television production.