Following the news that production would be delayed on Season 2 of The Last of Us on account of AMPTP's refusals to pay writers fair wages and the ensuing Writers Guild of America strike, the show's breakout star Bella Ramsey has confirmed that the production will indeed begin by the end of the year, teasing that the show's sophomore season would be even "darker."
Despite a largely positive reception to its debut season, there were certain fans who felt The Last of Us never properly utilized its horror elements to the fullest; despite the post-zombie-apocalypse premise, the show's undead antagonists, the Infected, rarely made an appearance. This could be about to change in the upcoming season, however — in an interview with Vanity Fair, Ramsey shared that the second season would be "darker" in tone.
They reiterated that despite delays, plans for Season 2 were indeed underway, revealing that "it’s really a story about revenge and a continuation from the first season about the dangers of unconditional love.” Whether a darker tone means an increased presence of the Infected, however, remains to be seen, given that arguably a large part of what makes The Last of Us work so well is a focus on character drama rather than horror and violence. With Ramsey emphasizing that the next season would see a continuation of its themes, audiences will have to wait until the show returns (likely in 2025, according to Francesca Orci, the Head of HBO Drama) to see the ways in which The Last of Us takes on a darker tone.
There is not yet a release date for Season 2 of The Last of Us, but stay tuned at Collider for further updates.