“Third time’s the charm”, as they say, but sometimes, you can get it right three times in a row!
Well, brace yourself, as these jaw-dropping TV and film franchises are back for a third time, with a bigger and much bolder vision in mind.
“The Last Of Us” Season 3 Confirmed Ahead Of Season 2’s Release
Of all the recent video games adapted for the small screen, none is more popular than HBO’s take on the beloved “The Last of Us.” The series landed on streaming services back in 2023, 10 years after the original game, and once again gripped viewers with an emotional, yet action-packed rollercoaster ride.
The series was so popular, in fact, that it was greenlit for a second season, meant to cover the events of the second game. It goes without saying that fans who are hooked to this series are excited to find out what comes next, while gamers who have played it are equally invested in how well it adapts the source material. This is largely helped by the fact that the show is made by empathetic showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, who have also long wished to go just beyond season 2 with the show. Consider their wish granted.
Yup – the show is going beyond the previously-thought 2 seasons allotted. When asked about this amazing news, Mazin stated: “We approached season 2 with the goal of creating something we could be proud of. The end results have exceeded even our most ambitious goals, thanks to our continued collaboration with HBO and the impeccable work of our unparalleled cast and crew. We look forward to continuing the story of The Last of Us with season 3!”
“To see The Last of Us brought to life so beautifully and faithfully has been a career highlight for me, and I am grateful for the fans’ enthusiastic and overwhelming support,” Druckmann, who also co-created the original game series, said. “Much of that success is thanks to my partner in crime, Craig Mazin, our partnership with HBO, and our team at PlayStation Productions. On behalf of everyone at Naughty Dog, our cast and crew, thank you so much for allowing us this opportunity. We’re thrilled to bring you more of The Last of Us!”
Much like “The Last of Us Part II”, season 2 continues the story five years after the events of season 1, where Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) have settled in Jackson, Wyoming, with Joel’s sister-in-law, Maria (Rutina Wesley). It would have been a peaceful life if it weren’t for the arrival of a mysterious group led by Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) as payback for the season 1 finale. Now it’s up to Ellie to fix past mistakes and tie up any loose ends.
Season 2 will have seven episodes and has already received stellar reviews from critics and test audiences alike. This upcoming installment will showcase a different formatting than season 1, containing time jumps and shifting POVs, making each episode more “dense” and story-rich, as both showrunners confirmed.
Mazin added: “I think it’s pretty likely that our story will extend past a season 3. How far past? I can’t say. And that’s not to say that there are not other stories that could be told, but this story is the one that Neil and I are telling.” This also begs the question: will this “high-calorie” type of episodic storytelling continue in the following season?
Of course, with season 3 receiving the thumbs up, we can perhaps see some story changes from the original source material, perhaps even expanding the narrative. Druckmann has even confirmed which direction they will take the show in, but refused to elaborate on the details or how many more seasons/episodes they have left in the tank.
“The Last of Us” Season 2 will premiere this Monday, 14th April, 12pm (Malaysia time) on HBO and Max.
Robert Pattinson May Join “Dune 3”
We know Robert Pattinson has been skyrocketing in popularity as of late, joining in on, if not starring in, his own films, such as the critically-acclaimed “Batman” and “Mickey 17” films. But it looks like there will be no rest for this A-list celebrity, as he might be joining another franchise, one set in a far distant future.
That’s right, Denis Villeneuve has set his sights on the latest cape crusader to join the ensemble cast of the highly anticipated “Dune 3” film. According to Variety, the veteran director is simply adding the finishing touches to the script for what could be the last “Dune” movie under his care and has mentioned that he is interested in Pattinson being a part of the spice-sniffing crew. However, there has been no formal offer as of yet, nor have there been any mention as to what role Pattinson will play. When asked about the details of the upcoming third installment, Legendary Entertainment gave no comment about the project.
It’s not just Legendary or Villeneuve vying for the attention of the “Twilight” star, as he recently co-starred with Zendaya in A24’s “The Drama” and is currently working on Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey.” Of course, we can’t forget the highly-anticipated sequel to “The Baman” that is slated for a 2027 release, though whether it will be delayed again because of “Dune 3” remains to be seen.
“Dune 3,” better known as “Dune: Messiah,” takes place 12 years after the events of “Dune” parts 1 and 2 and sees Paul seated as the emperor of the known universe, with absolute control over its resources, especially the coveted spice melange. However, despite his almost absolute power, many still conspire for his downfall and seek to liberate the universe from his rule. As to how Pattinson fits into this, we can speculate that he might take on the role of Scytale, a face dancer better known as a shape shifter, who is known for conspiring against Chalamet’s Paul Atreides, but still possesses an otherworldly mastery of words. This is, of course, speculation, but we’d love to see everyone’s “Twilight” star resume his ethereal charisma once again, this time with a hint of deceitfulness.
Source: Deadline, Entertainment Weekly
