Fans of the HBO series The Last of Us starring Pedro Pascal might have to wait a bit longer than anticipated for a second season.
According to Francesca Orsi, HBO’s Executive Vice President and Head of Drama, the hit show could be delayed because of the ongoing strike by the Writers Guild of America (WGA), who are literally fighting for a respectable living wage from networks and streaming services that make millions from their work.
“While everything at this moment is pencils down, I’m hopeful that we can come to terms sooner than later,” Orsi said. “Otherwise, we will have to assess what is the end of the [2024] schedule, what are the shows that are going to be delivered for 2025.”
Orsi added that if the strike continues for another 6-9 months, she’s not sure a series like The Last of Us could be ready any sooner. She continued: “We were looking at The Last of Us [Season 2] for some time in 2025.”
Earlier this year, the HBO hit was officially renewed for a second season. At that time, executive producer Craig Mazin thanked executive producer Neil Druckmann, HBO and the show’s fans. “The audience has given us the chance to continue,” he said. “I couldn’t be more ready to dive back in.”
Earlier this month, it was announced that casting auditions for season 2 were put on hold because of the strike. “Both Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin aren’t currently working on the show in any capacity due to the strike and are sticking to WGA’s guidelines.”
Mazin, who wrote most of the episodes of the first season, has been seen on the WGA picket line. Along with The Last of Us, Mazin has written episodes of the TV series Chernobyl and Mythic Quest and several movies, including Scary Movie 3 and The Hangover 2.
