HBO’s CEO has suggested that the TV adaptation of The Last of Us could be wrapped up as soon as next season.

Asked to confirm if The Last of Us’ upcoming season was “final” in an interview with Deadline, CEO and chairperson of HBO, Casey Bloys, said: “It certainly seems that way, but on decisions like that, we will defer to the showrunners. So you can ask them.”

Previously, that aforementioned showrunner, Craig Mazin, had claimed that the team was working to a four-season plan, insisting there was “no way” the narrative could be wrapped up in three seasons.

That wasn’t even the first time the magic number four has been floated in regard to The Last of Us’ TV adaptation, either. Mazin started the chatter all the way back in 2023, suggesting the show could “end up being three or five [seasons]. But four seems like a good number. Some seasons, because of the story we’re telling, will need fewer episodes and some will need more.”

Mazin discussed a four-season arc last May, and Naughty Dog’s Neil Druckmann stepped away from the TV adapation’s third season last September, stating he’d accomplished his “crazy goal” of elevating video games. Mazin has yet to publicly respond to Bloys’ comment.

ICYMI, the upcoming third season of HBO’s The Last of Us TV adaptation will feature a new actor playing WLF member Manny.