Neil Druckmann Didn't Mention His Last of Us Show Co-Creator at The Game Awards

While The Game Awards was stuffed with surprise announcements and guests, one of the show’s most interesting moments came during Neil Druckmann’s acceptance speech for the second season of HBO’s The Last of Us, as he made no mention of series co-creator Craig Mazin. The Last of Us‘ second season won the award for Best Adaptation at The Game Awards, beating out other adaptations like A Minecraft Movie, Devil May Cry, Splinter Cell: Deathwatch, and Until Dawn.

Over the summer, it was revealed that Neil Druckmann would be leaving HBO’s The Last of Us before production began on the show’s third season. The news came as a surprise to many fans of the game and show, as Druckmann has been intrinsically tied to the franchise from the very beginning. When making the announcement, Druckmann stated that he would be focusing his attention on Naughty Dog’s upcoming title Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Druckmann’s presence behind the scenes of The Last of Us added a lot of credibility to the adaptation, as many fans felt the series was being guided by one of the story’s original creators. While Druckmann played a large role in the adaptation, he also shared a lot of responsibilities with series co-creator and showrunner Craig Mazin. Many fans were quick to express their disappointment with Druckmann’s exit and voiced concerns about the direction of the show, questioning if it would continue to deviate from the original story of the games.

The Last of Us HBO Pedro Pascal Bella Ramsey Neil Druckmann

‘Outside Influence Or Pressure Doesn’t Lead You To Good Creative Choices’ The Last Of Us Creator On Honoring Fans

The Last of Us showrunner is not keen on impressing the diehard video game fans when it comes to the second season of the hit TV series.

Neil Druckmann Didn’t Mention Craig Mazin at The Game Awards

Shortly after it was announced that The Last of Us had won Best Adaptation for its second season, Neil Druckmann took the stage alongside Gabriel Luna to accept the award. Druckmann was quick to express his gratitude, thanking fans of the games for making all of it possible. He also expressed his appreciation for the cast and crew, calling out Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Isabela Merced, and Gabriel Luna specifically for their strong performances. Druckmann even jokingly thanked Netflix and Paramount, referencing the ongoing struggle to see which company will acquire Warner Bros. and HBO. While the moment was one of levity and gratitude, Druckmann’s acceptance speech didn’t make any mention of Craig Mazin, who acted as the show’s co-creator and showrunner throughout the first and second seasons.

With Craig Mazin now acting as the sole showrunner for The Last of Us‘ third season, some fans have wondered if there was tension between the two co-creators behind the scenes. Some gamers have questioned if Druckmann left after the second season due to the changes made to the original narrative, with a few people claiming Mazin had tried to insert too much of his own vision into the series. Neither Druckmann nor Mazin have openly acknowledged such tension, but that hasn’t stopped rumors from popping up among fans. Druckmann’s speech raised more than a few eyebrows, as many expected to hear Mazin’s name mentioned alongside the other talented individuals who helped bring The Last of Us to life. Of course, it’s impossible to know if this was an intentional move by Druckmann, as anyone could be forgiven for forgetting to mention someone specifically during the short window of an acceptance speech.

While there’s no way of knowing what the third season of The Last of Us will look like when it makes its debut, Bella Ramsey has done their best to reassure fans that Druckmann’s exit doesn’t mean the show is going to lose its edge. In an interview with Variety, Bella Ramsey commented on the change, stating that The Last of Us will “always be his creation” and that “his spirit” will be there even if he isn’t directly involved with the show any longer. While some fans were quick to agree with Bella Ramsey’s comments on the future of The Last of Us, others have expressed a bit more skepticism. Despite some possible hiccups behind the scenes, many fans are looking forward to seeing The Last of Us continue its story on HBO.