The Last of Us star Troy Baker teases “we’ve not seen the last of Joel”, as he reflects on the impact of the character and how he should be “proliferated and iterated on” in future projects

Troy Baker, the voice actor who brought Joel to life in Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us video game series, has suggested that the character’s story is far from over. In an interview with Eurogamer, Baker stated, “I definitely know we’ve not seen the last of Joel, whether that be Naughty Dog or somebody else,” though he offered no specifics about how or when the character might return.

This comment comes despite Joel being deceased in both The Last of Us games and HBO’s television adaptation, where Pedro Pascal portrays the character. Baker reflected on the character’s significant cultural impact, noting that Joel has resonated with audiences both within and outside the gaming community, particularly through the HBO series’ broader reach.

Baker emphasized that the character should be “proliferated and iterated on” in future projects, highlighting Joel’s importance as a cultural icon. He praised HBO’s adaptation and creator Neil Druckmann’s willingness to bring the story to television, acknowledging that the character’s narrative has proven compelling enough to warrant expansion beyond the original games.

While Baker offered no concrete details about potential new appearances—whether through additional games, other media, or flashbacks—his comments suggest that Naughty Dog and related properties may continue exploring Joel’s story. This could include prequels, spin-offs, or other narrative approaches given the character’s proven popularity and the franchise’s continued expansion into different media formats.

The Last of Us star Troy Baker teases “we’ve not seen the last of Joel”, as he reflects on the impact of the character and how he should be “proliferated and iterated on” in future projects

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