The Last of Us Season 3 set for 2027, likely the last

The Last of Us Season 3 is coming in 2027. HBO and Max Content chairman and chief executive Casey Bloys gave the date to Deadline at HBO Max's afterparty on Emmy Monday night at the San Vicente Bungalows. Deadline

Bloys said he believes showrunner Craig Mazin, the writer-producer in charge of the series, has planned the third run as the last. The final call rests with the showrunners and is not yet finalised. That would be a shift from Mazin's earlier view that a fourth season was essential to conclude the show. GameSpot

In 2025, Bloys said Mazin was still weighing two more seasons against one more long season. The 2027 plan points to the shorter path.

Season 3 will also look different behind the camera. Naughty Dog is not creatively involved in the new season. Co-creator Neil Druckmann has stepped back as writer and director to focus on his work on Naughty Dog games.

The update came on a mixed night for HBO. The network finished tied with Netflix for the most Emmy wins in the year before the 2026 Emmys. This time Apple TV finished first with 28 awards, ahead of HBO on 21 wins.

The Pitt took Outstanding Drama Series. DTF St. Louis won Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series. Widow's Bay won Outstanding Comedy Series, beating HBO Max's Hacks, though Hacks star Jean Smart won Lead Comedy Actress.

Bloys also gave notes on other HBO Max titles. He indicated that The Gilded Age may be renewed for a fifth season. Family drama pilot How to Survive Without Me is nearing a series pickup, and the Crave drama Heated Rivalry will get a red-carpet premiere for its second season.

The Last of Us is a 2023 American drama series from HBO. It was renewed for a second season in January 2023, with Bloys later announcing that Season 2 would begin production in early 2024 and target an early 2025 premiere.

For viewers, this means a long wait and a likely farewell. Season 3 arrives in 2027, probably closing the story in one run.