The Last of Us co-creator Neil Druckmann has confirmed the show's second season will feature never-before-seen material that was cut from the original games.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly (EW), Druckmann revealed that The Last of Us season 2 will include "one element from a cut level" that was left out of The Last of Us Part II, aka the second game in Naughty Dog's multi-award-winning video game franchise.
Druckmann, Naughty Dog's President and co-showrunner on Max's hugely popular TV adaptation of the game series, didn't reveal which one of Part II's three cut levels will be included in the hit show's sophomore season.
However, with Naughty Dog revealing said missions – dubbed the Lost Levels – will feature in The Last of Us Part II's forthcoming remastered edition, fans of the TV show and game franchise will be poring over the remake's new material to figure out which one will be in season 2.
"As a tease, I will say there is at least one element from a cut level that is planned [for] the show," Druckmann suggested. "I say that with the caveat that we haven’t started filming the show yet and all things are subject to change based on what we ultimately feel will be best for the show."
Unfortunately, as Druckmann alludes to, it'll be some time before we find out which scene might make its way into The Last of Us' second season. The cameras are yet to start rolling on the next installment in HBO's critically-acclaimed TV show, but a recent listing on Production Weekly (as seen by Collider) seemingly confirmed that principal photography will begin in January 2024. If that's true, you shouldn't expect The Last of Us season 2 to air on Max in the US, Sky in the UK, and Binge in Australia until sometime in 2025.
What The Last of Us Part II's Lost Levels could tell us about season 2
Per Druckmann, the Lost Levels will offer fans a "sneak peek into The Last of Us Part II’s original development and deepen fans’ appreciation for the studio’s creative work". Players who purchase Part II's remastered version, which arrives on January 19, 2024, won't be able to play these levels, according to EW. However, they'll feature interactive elements – essentially, content that gamers can play an active albeit limited role in – that's accompanied by developer commentary.
So, what will the Lost Levels show? Druckmann told EW that one sequence will center around "an extended party scene in Jackson [in the state of Wyoming] that offers more insight into Ellie’s life in town", while another sees the franchise's lead star following something (or someone) to a Mountain General Store near Jackson.
It's possible, then, that The Last of Us season 2 will include one of these scenes. Of course, it could contain the third and final sequence that Druckmann hasn't elaborated on – but hey, given his comments on the former duo, we have some idea of what to expect when one of the best Max shows hopefully returns in 2025.
Filming on the TV series' next installment will need to move quickly, too, if the rumors are true about Pedro Pascal being hired to play Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic in Marvel's Fantastic Four film. The MCU Phase 6 movie is, according to ProductionList.com, set to start filming in mid-January 2024 so, unless Pascal divides his time between both projects – and, potentially, his work on The Mandalorian season 4 on Disney Plus – there are going to be scheduling conflicts somewhere along the line.
