‘The Last of Us’ Already Renewed For Season 3

I’m eagerly waiting for the premiere of Season 2 of “The Last of Us” on HBO and Max, but even before its release, the cable network and streaming platform have already greenlit a third season for this critically acclaimed zombie series, which is based on the highly successful video game franchise.

Despite the upcoming premiere of Season 2 not being entirely unexpected, given that the first season of “The Last of Us” was one of HBO’s most successful series ever and the show was intended to adapt the events from both the PlayStation games. While the television series adapted the storyline of the first “Last of Us” game, Season 2 will only tackle a portion of the narrative presented in “The Last of Us Part II.

In the lineup for this show are actors such as Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, Rutina Wesley, along with fresh faces like Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Young Mazino, Danny Ramirez, and Jeffrey Wright. Notably, Catherine O’Hara will make a special appearance too.

It remains uncertain if Season 3 of “The Last of Us” will mark the end, or if additional seasons might be necessary to wrap up the story. However, given the success of the first season on HBO and Max, it seems reasonable to anticipate that they would want to prolong this series as much as possible.

Here is the official synopsis for The Last of Us Season 2:

Five years following the incidents from the initial season, Joel and Ellie find themselves embroiled in discord and confronting a world that’s not only more hazardous but also more unstable than the one they once knew.

This coming Sunday, at 9PM Eastern Time, you can catch the premiere of Season 2 for “The Last of Us” on both HBO and Max. The entire season consists of only seven episodes.

The 10 Weirdest Ways Actors Were Written Off of TV Shows

1. Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men

In the aftermath of Charlie Sheen’s dismissal from “Two and a Half Men” due to his controversial remarks about showrunner Chuck Lorre, the writers needed an off-screen exit strategy for the character, Charlie Harper. They devised a dramatic and unconventional death: After enjoying his honeymoon in Paris with his on-again, off-again fiancée Rose (Melanie Lynskey), Charlie was found deceased in a tragic accident – he had been discovered in bed with another woman, fallen from a Métro platform, and hit by an incoming train. His character made subsequent appearances, first as a ghost possessing Kathy Bates’ character, then in the series finale where it was revealed that he had miraculously survived, imprisoned in Rose’s cellar and planning to murder all the other characters, only to meet his final demise under a falling grand piano.

2. George Clooney, ER

George Clooney’s breakout role on ER catapulted him to stardom, prompting him to leave the show and focus on his burgeoning Hollywood career. The writers of ER crafted an emotionally charged narrative surrounding Dr. Doug Ross, who was compelled to resign from Cook County General Hospital due to a scandal involving administering a lethal dose of pain medication to a terminally ill child’s mother. Facing criminal charges, he found support from the hospital’s Chief of Genetics. This incident led him to relocate to Seattle. Clooney later reprised his role in Season 6 and returned as a guest star for a multi-episode storyline during the final season.

3. Heidi Swedberg, Seinfeld

As a dedicated fan, I fondly recall Heidi Swedberg’s memorable stint on “Seinfeld” as Susan Ross, the complex character who was George Costanza’s persistent on-again off-again girlfriend. Her role as an executive at NBC, amidst her tumultuous relationship with George, often put her job in jeopardy, especially during the production of their sitcom that George and Jerry were creating together.

Throughout the entire seventh season, Susan and George were engaged, but George eventually sought to end this commitment in pursuit of a relationship with Marisa Tomei. Despite Susan’s persistence, she finally relented in the season finale, “The Invitations,” after unknowingly licking poisonous glue on the cheap wedding invitation envelopes that George had purchased. Heartbroken and guilt-ridden, George swiftly moved on to pursue Tomei once more, only to find that she had lost interest.

4. Isaac Hayes, South Park

Jerome “Chef” McElroy served as the adult figure whom the characters from South Park relied on for advice, but this relationship didn’t save him when it came to handling the departure of Isaac Hayes, his voice actor, from the show. Hayes had expressed disagreement with South Park’s criticism of Scientology, a church he was a member of, as the reason for leaving the series. (It was later claimed that his entourage made this decision for him while he was recovering from a stroke in the hospital.)

In the Season 10 premiere titled “The Return of Chef,” it was shown that Chef had joined an organization similar to Scientology before meeting a violent end through a series of bizarre events, such as being set on fire, impaled, and torn apart by both a grizzly bear and a mountain lion.

5. Lee Norris, Boy Meets World

On the television show “Boy Meets World”, Lee Norris took on the role of Stuart Minkus, the character known for his nerdiness, which included a bowl cut, glasses with wire rims, and a large water gun. He made frequent appearances in Season 1, but disappeared after the season finale episode titled “I Dream of Feeny”. In the final scene of that episode, Cory, Shawn, Minkus, and Topanga attempted to use their psychic powers to turn on a lightbulb, but instead focused on making Minkus disappear. This power was successfully used, and he wasn’t seen again until Season 5, in the episode “Graduation”, where it is revealed that he had been moved to another classroom down the hall.

6. Nina Dobrev, The Vampire Diaries

In contrast to rumors suggesting behind-the-scenes turmoil or underhanded tactics, Nina Dobrev, the star of “The Vampire Diaries,” had always maintained her intention to stay for six seasons. However, if Dobrev wished to depart, a solution was needed for her character, Elena Gilbert. In the Season 6 finale, a villainous vampire-witch hybrid named Kai, one of the season’s primary antagonists, orchestrated a violent attack on a wedding attended by major characters. The assault resulted in deaths, injuries, and rendering Elena unconscious. Kai then cast a spell that would perpetually tie Elena’s life to her best friend Bonnie’s: as long as Bonnie survives, Elena will remain asleep, with no prospect of breaking the spell. This represents a heartbreaking conclusion for Elena and Damon’s tumultuous narrative, and an unexpected ending to a main character’s storyline that left fans in shock.

7. Roseanne Barr, Roseanne

1990’s kids everywhere cheered when the popular sitcom “Roseanne” was revived in 2018, over two decades since its last finale. However, the comeback, featuring many original cast members and recurring guest stars, lasted only one season before turmoil erupted. The show’s namesake, Roseanne Barr, was dismissed just two months after the renewal for another season was announced, following her posting a racially insensitive tweet about Valerie Jarrett, an ex-advisor to former President Barack Obama. As the show couldn’t authentically be called “Roseanne” without its lead actress, it was renamed “The Conners.” The premiere of this new series addressed the off-screen demise of Roseanne Conner, who succumbed to an opioid overdose, with the subsequent episode depicting the remaining characters grappling with her long-hidden drug addiction before her untimely death.

8. Shannen Doherty, Charmed

In different accounts, it’s been suggested that Shannen Doherty left the series “Charmed” due to conflicts with her co-stars, creative disagreements with producer Aaron Spelling, or off-set drama leading to her termination. Over time, the story has evolved, and there’s general consensus that Doherty did indeed depart the show abruptly.

Her character, Prue Halliwell, one of the three powerful witch sisters, met a tragic end at the close of Season 3. In a complex time travel narrative, she was slain by a wind demon assassin dispatched by The Source of All Evil, leaving fans on a cliffhanger. It wasn’t until the beginning of Season 4 that viewers learned Prue had perished, and her role was taken over by Rose McGowan’s character, Paige Matthews.

9. Travis Fimmel, Vikings

In the original series Vikings, the character of Ragnar Lothbrok, inspired by a genuine Viking hero, was initially planned for just one season, concluding with his death in the finale. However, creator Michael Hirst opted to extend his role for an additional three seasons. The storyline of Ragnar concludes dramatically on the English coast, where he is seized and handed over to King Aelle of Northumbria, who inflicts torture upon him before casting him into a pit filled with venomous serpents, leading to his demise. Consistent with the passing of a Viking king, Odin, the god, manifests himself to Ragnar’s sons and communicates that their father has perished and is now waiting for them in Valhalla.

10. T.R. Knight, Grey’s Anatomy

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but reflect on the profound impact Grey’s Anatomy has had over its impressive 20-season run. One death that still resonates deeply among viewers is that of George O’Malley, portrayed by T.R. Knight for five seasons. The climax of Season 5 saw George departing from Seattle Grace Hospital to serve as a trauma surgeon in the army. His farewell was heartfelt and emotional, but it wasn’t long before tragedy struck.

In the final moments of that episode, an unidentified John Doe was rushed into the emergency room after apparently jumping in front of a bus to save a woman. Meredith, in a poignant moment, recognized George when he wrote “007,” one of his many nicknames, on her hand. The following season premiere revealed that George passed away during surgery.

Years later, Knight shared that the reason behind his departure was due to creative differences regarding his character’s screen time and his personal decision to publicly come out as gay in real life. This untimely demise continues to be one of the most debated and emotional moments in Grey’s Anatomy history.

2025-04-09 19:54