When news broke that Naughty Dog’s beloved franchise, The Last of Us, was being adapted into a TV show, fans were understandably skeptical. Many great video games have unsuccessfully tried to transition to TV or movies, so some thought The Last of Us would join the list of failed attempts. To HBO’s credit, however, the reality has been very different, and the show has been extremely well-received by both critics and fans. With Season 2 on the horizon and Season 3 already confirmed, the show may eventually overtake the games in terms of narrative. Should this happen, it could greatly impact the plot of any potential The Last of Us Part 3.
It’s been four years since the release of The Last of Us Part 2. The conclusion of that game seemed to bring an end to protagonist Ellie’s story arc, even if it left various plot threads hanging. Many believe that The Last of Us Part 3 is inevitable, but developer Naughty Dog has yet to confirm this. If it does happen, it’s unknown what the plot would involve or if Ellie would even be featured. Part 3’s story could be directly influenced by what happens in the show once Part 2’s story is caught up on screen.
Those looking for examples of a TV show catching up to and overtaking its source material should consider another HBO show, Game of Thrones. The high-fantasy drama was a ratings powerhouse and is widely regarded as one of the greatest shows ever. It closely followed George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire book series, featuring excellent acting, impactful action scenes, and intelligent dialogue. When the show surpassed Martin’s books from Season 5 onward, the quality noticeably declined. By the end of its eighth and final season, many felt the show had become a messy, unstructured shadow of its former self, capped off by a weak finale that left many scratching their heads.
The Last of Us Part 2 is a huge game with a vast amount of narrative ground, giving Season 2 of the show plenty of room to explore. Show creator Neil Druckmann has confirmed that the season is only seven episodes long, and the plot of Part 2 will likely spill over into Season 3. Around Season 3, it’s safe to assume Druckmann will run out of plot material from the games, meaning the show will enter uncharted territory.
How The Last of Us TV Show Could Inspire the Third Game
Season 1 of the TV show closely followed the events of the first game, even replicating some scenes shot for shot. While several elements were expanded upon, like the character of Bill and his partner Frank, the key plot points closely mirrored their source material. There’s no reason to think this won’t continue for Season 2, but given the convoluted timelines of Part 2, it’s uncertain how that will play out on screen.
There’s no timeline attached to any potential The Last of Us Part 3. Naughty Dog has several projects in active development, but none have been revealed yet, and one could likely be TLOU Part 3.
There’s no doubt that the TV show and video game series are closely linked from a narrative perspective, making it difficult to imagine them deviating from each other. What happens first between TLOU Part 3’s release and the show catching up with the plot remains to be seen. Whichever comes first, it is highly likely to affect the other. With Druckmann likely at the helm for both projects, achieving consistency across both should be relatively easy, further satisfying fans.
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