Mohamed Hassan 
The Last of Us Part 2 director Neil Druckmann wants to get fans more involved in the creative process, and that includes talking about deleted content that will return in Season 2 of the upcoming TV show and the PS5 version of the game.
Naughty Dog recently announced a remastered version of The Last of Us Part II for the PS5, which will be released on January 19 next year. For the price of $10 USD, players will get PS5-exclusive upgrades, a Roguelike survival mode, three new unfinished levels, and hours of developer commentary. In short, it’s an edition meant to enhance fans’ appreciation of the original game, and that plays into the TV show as well.
Like the first season, The Last of Us Season 2 will not be a 1:1 adaptation of the game’s content. The first season of The Last of Us already deviated from the game in several ways and added new backstories for minor characters. With The Last of Us Season 2 soon landing on streaming services, Druckmann opened up about one of those key differences between the game and the TV show.
The Last of Us Season 2 to include lost levels, deleted content from The Last of Us Part 2 game
Season 2 of The Last of Us TV show will bring to life content and levels that was deleted from The Last of Us Part 2 video game, Naughty Dog’s Neil Druckmann said in an interview.
“As a tease, I will say there is at least one element from a cut level that is planned [for] the show,” Druckmann said to Entertainment Weekly.
Druckmann talked about the purpose of the lost levels that are getting added in the remastered PS5 version of the game. According to Druckmann, the lost levels will not be fully completed levels, but they will come with interactive elements and developer commentary explaining the intent of the level and why it was cut. He added that this is subject to change, as filming has not yet begun and he will have to consider whether this is best for the show itself.
The story of The Last of Us Part 2 takes place five years after the events of the first game and begins with Joel living in peace with Ellie and his brother Tommy in the town of Jackson, Wyoming. That peace is shattered by a group of raiders.
Druckmann mentioned “an extended party scene” that develops Ellie’s relationship with her new hometown and a new scene with Ellie tracking something outside the city.
“These are a new attempt from us to lift the curtain on the development process, and I hope players appreciate the insight into what did and didn’t make it into the final game,” he concludes.
The Last of Us Season 2 release date is late 2024 or early 2025
There is no confirmed release date for The Last of Us Season 2 but Ellie’s actress, Bella Ramsey, estimates that the show will be on the air by late 2024 or early 2025 at the latest.
Like Season 1, The Last of Us Season 2 is expected to launch on HBO and HBO Max on the same day. Pre-production on The Last of Us Season 2 was suspended indefinitely due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. The show is set to begin filming in January 2024 in Vancouver, Canada. Most of the core creative team from The Last of Us Season 1 is expected to return for Season 2.
In addition to Neil Druckmann and the return of executive producer and series creator Craig Mazin, Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey will reprise their roles as Joel and Ellie. Jeffrey Pierce and Ahley Scott will also join the main duo in Jackson as Tommy and Maria.
It is unknown if Critical Role’s Laura Bailey, who voiced Abby in the game, will appear in The Last of Us Season 2. Ashley Johnson, who voiced Ellie in the games, made an appearance in one episode of the first season.
Will there be a The Last of Us Season 3?
Series creator Craig Mazin has indicated there will be a third season of The Last of Us, and maybe more.
Mazin previously spoke about needing to create multiple seasons of TV just to cover the events the second video game.
“There’s no way to tell the remaining story in one more season. We would need more time than that. But we are also committed to moving toward a conclusion, as opposed to creating an open-ended series that goes on as long as people watch,” Mazin said.
