The Last Of Us fans have been in a state of permanent excitement, recently spiralling into pure delirium, as the second season of the hit show looms.

But its creator Craig Mazin has now rained on their parade, revealing when the award-winning drama will end – and there’s not got long to go.

The first series of the HBO award-winner aired in 2023 and saw Neil Druckmann join forces with Craig to adapt his popular post-apocalyptic video game into a TV spectacle.

It features plague survivors Joel, played by Pedro Pascal and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), heading on a road trip across the United States as they navigate the collapse of society while the rest of the population turn into zombie-like creatures.

The high-budget show involves spectacular scenery and fine acting performances, which led to eight Emmy Awards and almost 32 million viewers per episode at its height. 

Its much-anticipated second series hits screens on April 13 and will focus on the second instalment of the video game, set four years after the original.

The Last Of Us fans have been in a state of excitement, recently spiralling into pure delirium, as the second season of the hit show, featuring Pedro Pascal (pictured) looms

But its creator Craig Mazin (pictured, in March) has now rained on their parade, revealing when the award-winning drama will end – and it’s not got long to go

Its much-anticipated second series hits screens on April 13 and will focus on the second instalment of the video game, set four years after the original

Creator Craig has confirmed that this means there will be a maximum of two more after the next run of episodes finishes.   

He told The Hollywood Reporter: ‘I am not going to go past the game. I’ll just say that flat out. So if people are thinking, “Oh, these guys are planning the old cash grab thing…”

‘I’m basically setting a decade of my rapidly dwindling life on fire to tell this story. The show is so hard to make. It has to have an end. 

‘So I’m not going to go past. Who knows, there might be a Dunk and Egg The Last Of Us show that happens that somebody does.

‘But for me, the only question is: Is it going to be one more season or will it require two more? If this can happen all in one more season, great. If we feel like it makes sense to break it into two, then we will do that.’

The Last Of Us debuted a trailer for season two at SXSW earlier this month setting an ominous tone and hinting that the sense of peace at the Jackson compound will be compromised.

The trailer builds tension, showing the infected hoards advancing towards the people they care about.

It introduces viewers to two new cast members, Kaitlyn Dever as Abby and Young Mazino as Jesse.

Fan favourite Pedro Pascal is also featured heavily in the clip. 

The first season of the HBO award-winner aired in 2023 and saw the popular post-apocalyptic game adapted into a TV spectacle, also starring Bella Ramsey (pictured, left)

It featured plague survivors Joel, played by Pedro Pascal, and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) heading on a road trip across the United States

Read More New trailer for The Last of Us season two reveals ominous storyline

The series creators were joined on a panel at SXSW by stars Bella, Pedro, Kaitlyn, Isabela Merced, Young, and Gabriel Luna.

The season two plotline reads: ‘Joel and Ellie’s collective past catches up to them, drawing them into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.’

‘One of the notes that I resent the most is “We loved this thing — more of it, please!”‘ Craig previously told Variety.

‘You love it because that’s the right amount of it. When you do more, what makes it special starts to dissipate. It becomes comfort food. And if there’s one thing about The Last Of Us, it is not comfortable,’ he explained.

The Last Of Us airs on Sky Atlantic in the UK and is available to stream on NOW.