As ‘Last of Us’ Earns 24 Emmy Noms, Craig Mazin Talks Strike and Writers Rooms vs. Working Alone: ‘My Philosophies Are Aligned With the Guild’

After a spring spent breaking audiences hearts and viewership records for HBO, The Last of Us co-creator and showrunner Craig Mazin is having a complicated summer.

On one hand, Mazins show just earned 24 Emmy nominations more than any other show this year besides HBO peer Succession. Highlights include lead acting nods for Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey; a whopping seven guest acting nods including deaf 10-year-old actor Kevionn Montreal Woodard; and another in the outstanding drama series category.

But on the other, Mazin is a proud member of the Writers Guild of America, which has been on strike for 72 days against the studios, networks and streamers that make up the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

The prolific writer spoke to Variety hours after nominations were announced to discuss the achievements hes most proud of, his take on the WGAs proposed staffing minimums for writers rooms and more. (Note: The discussion of Bella Ramsey and the Emmys gendered acting categories took place over email after the phone interview.)

Congratulations. How are you?

Very good. Very grateful. Its a weird, weird time mixed emotions, given the way the world is working. But it was lovely to see how many people, not only from our cast, but our crew were nominated. Im very worried about our crew, so its just good to see them getting the attention they deserve.

It has to be an odd feeling for your show to land 24 Emmy nominations when youre 72 days into the writers strike, with the actors potentially soon to join you.

Im happy to talk about all this stuff specifically because I want to support the working artists that made the show. Its unfortunate that were celebrating what were doing while struggling with these companies that just dont want to treat artists fairly. So like I said, mixed emotions. I look at this as an opportunity to remind everybody that our business runs on the work and talent of artists and employees all of whom are in labor unions. And all of them deserve fair contracts and the ability to earn a living wage and do their jobs with dignity. Thats my term paper on that.

One of the WGAs proposals is about staffing minimums a minimum number of writers that a studio must hire depending on how long a season is. How do you feel about that point, as someone who tends to write alone?

No one needs to be too upset on my behalf. Mike White [creator of The White Lotus] and I became the poster children for the lone wolf. My understanding and its not just an understanding; I talked about this at length with Chris Keyser and with staff at the WGA is that minimum staffing would not necessarily impact the way that I write. Its about employment. Its not necessarily about who sits in a room and does what.

The truth is, I am one person in a union of 9,000. I may not agree on everything that the union is looking for, but then again, if you agree on everything that your leaders put forward, youre probably just a robot. Republicans dont agree on everything the Republican Party says. Democrats dont believe everything the Democratic Party says. Its really just, in general, are your principles and philosophies aligned? And in this case, my principles and philosophies are aligned with the Writers Guild in the large general way. So well see what happens. I dont know whats going to happen. Im borne by the tide the way everyone else is, just waiting for the companies to stop it. Literally, its all I keep thinking to myself. Theyve just gotta stop it. Its on them to make this right.

On the celebratory side, the lead acting nods for Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey were more expected, but The Last of Us completely swept the guest acting categories. Not just Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett for the acclaimed third episode, but also Melanie Lynskey, Storm Reid, Anna Torv, Lamar Johnson, and 10-year-old Keivonn Montreal Woodard, who is now the second-youngest Emmy nominee in history. Have you gotten to speak to your cast yet?

Anna is in Australia, so I emailed her, but Im not sure what time it is over there. But I talked to Nick and Murray and Melanie and Storm and Lamar. And then I spoke with Keivonns mom who had no idea what was going on today. Shes like, What? What happened? And shes so excited, and cant wait to talk Keivonn who currently has no idea because hes in basketball camp.

And I of course reached out to all of our crew. It was a busy morning of texting and emails. 24 nominations is incredible, especially for a first season show. We didnt set the record apparently NYPD Blue had 27 nominations in their first season, but that was 1993. So thats the most in 30 years for a new show. It was really, really a wonderful thing to see support from our peers like that.

Bella Ramsey has spoken about being uncomfortable with gendered awards categories, though theyre now nominated as an actress. Have you spoken to them about this before? Whats your take on how the Emmys could honor nonbinary performers?

I talk about everything with Bella, so of course weve spoken about this. Its a really interesting challenge. On the one hand, the conversation about gender has transformed dramatically and in a very progressive and positive way. On the other hand, we have to practically make sure that by moving away from gendered categories, we dont shortchange traditionally overlooked folks and we know that in non-gendered categories like directing and writing, women have been historically under-appreciated. I dont know the answer, but I have every expectation that non-binary performers will soon be recognized in the respectful and appropriate way they deserve.

And we dont normally see genre shows performing this way especially not video game adaptations. Youve had a hit show before, but has the reception to The Last of Us still felt like a shock?

Anybody who says theyd expect what happened with The Last of Us would be possibly a sociopath. No one should think, The show will be seen by 30 to 40 million people and itll get all these Emmy nominations. We would have been thrilled with just good viewership numbers and good reviews, but its been overwhelming.

We cant wait to get back to it. Once again, were all sitting here thrilled, but also just waiting for the companies to Stop it! To just stop what theyre doing so that we can get back to work making the next season of The Last of Us. We are ready to go. The town needs to be able to get back to work.

I know you want to highlight your team is there a nomination youre proudest of?

[Being nominated for outstanding drama series] is the biggest, because it covers everyones work, including people that may have not received a nomination, all the people that worked so hard on the show. So the show will always be the one that Im most proud of.

But individually, the one that just made my heart pop open this morning was Keivonn. Hes so young. This is his first acting job. We kind of just found him, like through Twitter. And he was such a joy to work with. Such a beautiful kid, who did such a lovely job. I cant imagine what it must be like to take a job when youre eight years old that youve never done before, not be scared and just be great at it. So with that one, I was just so tickled. I just thought that was wonderful.

What about your below-the-line nominees?

Thats a tough one, because theyre all my family. Its hard to to pick one that excites me the most. But there were some that stepped up that are interesting. For instance, Emily Mendez, stepping up from assistant editor to editor and getting an Emmy nomination is awesome. Its always fun to watch people stepping into a job and just absolutely crushing it like that. Im always just looking for opportunities to take people who are doing great work and elevate them. Its selfish, really. I want the benefit of their work!

Lastly, are you doing anything to celebrate your nominations today?

Youve asked the wrong person. I dont think Im celebrating. Im at a place in my career where Im very comfortable; this strike isnt gonna harm me in a serious financial way. I know that is not the case for so many people. So its hard to jump up and down and go, Hurray me! when I know that people are suffering. Like I said, its a mixed emotions day.