"The Last of Us" was created by Neil Druckmann and Bruce Straley, who worked in tandem to write and direct the smash hit video game. The sheer popularity of the video game led to a series adaptation being created by HBO, to be streamed on Max.

Neil Druckmann, the co-creator of the hit HBO series and the writer of the game on which it is based, announced Wednesday that he would be stepping away from the show ahead of its third season.

The Last of Us has been a major hit for HBO since its premiere in 2023, but the series is facing a creative change behind-the-scenes moving forward into Season 3. Neil Druckmann--the co-creator of The Last of Us video games and the co-showrunner of the series--has announced his departure from the show.