Neil Druckmann, the co-president of Naughty Dog and director of the acclaimed The Last of Us video game series, has sent fans into a frenzy with a cryptic social media post that many interpret as a hint towards a potential third instalment in the franchise.
Cryptic Instagram Post Fuels Speculation
On his Instagram account, Druckmann shared early concept art from the original 2003 pitch for The Last of Us, featuring preliminary sketches of protagonists Joel and Ellie. His caption read: "Cleaning out the garage today and stumbled on my original sketches from 2003 for a game pitch about a man, his surrogate daughter, and a trek across a broken America."
However, it was the concluding remark that truly ignited fan theories: "Been a wild journey. Grateful for every part of it, especially the few stops that remain on the road ahead." The phrase "few stops" has been widely analysed, suggesting multiple upcoming projects related to The Last of Us universe, rather than just one.
Current Projects and Studio Priorities
At present, the only confirmed The Last of Us project in active development is the third season of the HBO television adaptation, starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. Production is slated to commence shortly, with an anticipated release in 2027.
Druckmann served as an executive producer on the show's first season but subsequently stepped back to concentrate on his responsibilities at Naughty Dog. The studio is currently focused on Intergalactic: The Last Prophet, a new science fiction intellectual property announced at The Game Awards in 2024, which is believed to be their primary undertaking, though no release date has been confirmed.
Multiple Projects in the Pipeline
In addition to the new IP, Druckmann has publicly acknowledged involvement in a second game at Naughty Dog, where he acts more as a producer and mentor. During an appearance on the Press X to Continue podcast last year, he stated: "There’s another game that’s being worked on at Naughty Dog where I’m more of a producer and I get to mentor and watch this other team and give feedback and be the executive in the room."
It remains unclear whether this project is another new franchise or a continuation of an existing series, such as Uncharted, whose last release was The Lost Legacy in 2017.
Story Continuation Possibilities
Druckmann has previously indicated that the narrative of The Last of Us may not be concluded. In an official documentary about the making of The Last of Us Part 2, he remarked, "there's one more chapter to this story," strongly implying potential for a sequel to continue Ellie's journey.
While these hints are tantalising, any development of The Last of Us Part 3 would likely be a long-term endeavour, given the studio's current commitments and the intricate production processes involved in creating such high-profile titles.
