The Last of Us online game actor Troy Baker has stated there’s extra to return for his character Joel, probably together with “extra video games.”
Baker, who performed Joel in Naughty Canine’s The Last of Us and its sequel, made the comment whereas discussing the character’s affect with followers — one thing an viewers wider than video video games has loved with Pedro Pascal’s portrayal of the character in HBO’s The Last of Us TV collection.
Warning! Spoilers for The Last of Us video video games and TV present observe:
Alas, with Joel now useless within the video games and the TV present, you’d assume that might doubtless be it for the flannel-wearing hunk — however not so, stated Baker, who likened the character to 1 probably portrayed by many actors over time.
“I hope that Pedro shouldn’t be the final individual to play Joel,” Baker stated, chatting with Eurogamer. “I wish to see this character be proliferated and iterated on in a number of mediums, whether or not or not it’s TV, movie, extra video games, comedian books. I see folks that cosplay as [Joel] on a regular basis… he made an affect.”
Baker’s remark comes sizzling on the heels of remarks by franchise creator Neil Druckmann that instructed a 3rd The Last of Us recreation will finally get made — even whether it is nonetheless a while off. Certainly, a former colleague of Druckmann’s just lately shared an eye-opening plot concept that the creator had as soon as deliberate, which might seemingly play a big half.
Absolutely, any future recreation that includes Ellie would additionally embody no less than one flashback to her time with Joel, as a send-off to the collection and Baker’s unique tackle the character. Some variety of cameo for Pascal in HBO’s closing season of The Last of Us additionally feels inevitable.
“I positively know we have not seen the final of Joel, whether or not that be Naughty Canine or any person else,” Baker concluded. Precisely when Joel could subsequent seem, nevertheless, stays to be seen.
For his half, Druckmann has by no means dominated out making a 3rd chapter of the saga, and Naughty Canine’s official Grounded 2: Making The Last of Us Half 2 documentary even ends with Druckmann stating that he feels “there’s another chapter to this story” for Naughty Canine to inform. Within the meantime, the studio is busy constructing Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, which Druckmann is directing. The developer additionally has a second recreation in manufacturing that is being directed by Shaun Escayg, who beforehand helmed Uncharted: The Misplaced Legacy, which isn’t believed to be The Last of Us associated. All of that doubtless means The Last of Us 3 will not launch till someday within the 2030s.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s Information Editor. You’ll be able to attain Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or discover him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social