The Last of Us Creator Hints at How Many Seasons the HBO Series Might Have: ‘Not Sure How I Can Top This’ (Exclusive)

Co-creator Craig Mazin tells PEOPLE that he is “focused on telling the story that’s there” in the video games

While fans of The Last of Us wait for the April 13 season 2 premiere, one of the HBO series’ creators is sharing his thoughts on when the popular post-apocalyptic drama should end and why it makes sense.

Craig Mazin revealed to PEOPLE at The Last of Us season 2 premiere red carpet event on March 24 that he and co-creator Neil Druckmann have a pretty good sense of how many seasons the show might get to — with their decision hinging on the video games that inspired the series. 

When asked whether they will create their own storylines if they get through the existing storylines from both The Last of Us games before a new video game sequel comes out, Mazin firmly said, “No.”

“No, Neil and I really are focused on telling the story that’s there, and it will come to an end, whether it is in season 3 or season 4,” says the 53-year-old co-writer, co-director and co-executive producer of the series. 

“I’m not sure how I can top this,” Mazin continues. “So if there’s more or less of this to happen, other people will carry it forward. And I’ll go make tiny, tiny little things. Two people talking in a room, in a warm room.”

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The HBO series, which debuted in January 2023, is based on the 2013 video game of the same name. Season 1 primarily focused on Pedro Pascal’s smuggler character Joel and Bella Ramsey’s teen character Ellie crossing the U.S. together — with Joel protecting Ellie since she is immune to the fungus infection ravaging the post-apocalyptic world.

Mazin told PEOPLE they learned a lot from making the first season. 

“There is no amount of attention that is enough … We were rewarded, I think, for our attention to detail and our love and care and concern,” Mazin explains. “But there were practical things we learned too.“

“We got much better at how to portray the infected onscreen because we’re learning as we go with a lot of that stuff,” he adds of the fungus and the cannibalistic creatures. “I think the success of season 1 just reinforced that the way we followed our hearts was the right way to go for season 2.”

The upcoming second season, which will likely include storylines from 2020’s The Last of Us Part II game, will introduce Kaitlyn Dever’s soldier character Abby as well as other new supporting cast members. 

Season 1 earned 24 nominations at the 2023 Emmys and won eight of those awards, including Nick Offerman claiming his first Emmy win for his guest acting role as lonely survivalist Bill, who lives and partners with fellow survivor Frank (Murray Bartlett), in the fan-favorite episode 3.

“People will send emails, particularly around our third episode last season, that were just so moving and talk so much about what it meant,” Mazin recalls to PEOPLE at the season 2 premiere event.

“A lot of gay people talked about watching it with their parents and their fathers, who then finally went, ‘Oh.’ That was so moving, and just made me think okay, I wasn’t here on this planet for nothing,” he says. “I did a little something. Before I shuffle off, I got a little something done.”

The Last of Us is streaming now on Max, and season 2 premieres on April 13.