Troy Baker’s Tease That Reignited The Last of Us Prequel Talk
Joel Miller is canonically dead in both The Last of Us Part II and the live‑action adaptation, but his original actor believes players haven’t seen the last of him yet. In a recent Troy Baker interview with Eurogamer, the performer said that while Joel’s story is over, he is convinced the character will appear again in some form: “I definitely know we’ve not seen the last of Joel, whether that be Naughty Dog or somebody else.” That single line has supercharged Joel return rumors and pushed The Last of Us prequel speculation back into the spotlight. Coverage from outlets and fan discussions alike now treat Joel’s comeback as less a wild fantasy and more a genuine possibility, especially as Naughty Dog hints at a new chapter for the series even while focusing on its new IP, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
Where a The Last of Us Prequel Could Fit in the Timeline
If The Last of Us prequel happens, there are several natural gaps in the Last of Us timeline where Joel could plausibly return. One obvious window is the chaotic early outbreak years, which remain largely uncharted beyond a few flashbacks and scattered conversations. A game or series set in that era could show Joel’s transformation from single father to hardened smuggler, exploring his relationship with Tommy and the events that turned him into the man Ellie later meets. Another angle is a quieter pre‑outbreak drama focused on Joel’s life with Sarah, leaning into domestic stakes before everything collapses. Fans have also floated anthology ideas, where Joel appears intermittently in stories that spotlight other survivors. Baker’s wording leaves room for all of these: a return that expands his history without undoing his fate in Part II.
What “Joel’s Return” Could Actually Mean Across Games and TV
Baker’s comments arrive with an important caveat: Joel is definitively gone in the mainline games and in the live‑action show. Any Joel comeback has to respect that reality. The most straightforward option is more extensive flashbacks in a Naughty Dog future game, filling in missing years without resurrecting him. Another possibility is a spin‑off or anthology project—perhaps even outside Naughty Dog—where Joel appears as a supporting figure rather than the lead, or in a different medium such as animation. IGN’s coverage of Baker’s remarks stresses that the actor is talking about Joel’s cultural impact, not a simple retcon. That suggests we should think broadly: cameos, limited‑series adaptations, or experimental narratives are all on the table. A full‑fledged prequel is just one of several ways to honor Joel while keeping the overall story’s stakes intact.
Fans Split Between Wanting More Joel and Moving On
Fan reaction to growing Joel return rumors is far from unanimous. Many players still see Joel as the emotional core of the franchise and would happily follow him into any The Last of Us prequel that deepens his backstory. Social media responses and comment threads called out in recent coverage show excitement at the idea of revisiting his early days as a survivor. At the same time, some long‑time followers argue that The Last of Us thrives when it embraces new characters and uncomfortable directions, as with Part II’s focus on Ellie and Abby. Letter pages and inbox columns discussing a potential The Last of Us Part III underline a wider tension: people expect the brand to continue, but not everyone wants it tethered forever to the same protagonist. Any Joel‑centric project will have to balance nostalgia with that demand for fresh perspectives.
Will Naughty Dog Actually Go Back to Joel?
Naughty Dog has a history of revisiting its heroes—think of how Uncharted kept returning to Nathan Drake’s past and relationships—but it also resists easy fan service. The studio is currently focused on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, and even commentators who see a new Last of Us as inevitable acknowledge there is no clear sign that full development on Part III has begun. Still, Sony is unlikely to abandon such a prominent series, and Baker’s confidence that we have not seen the last of Joel hints that conversations are happening, whether at Naughty Dog or elsewhere. The most plausible scenario is a side project or prequel that explores a specific slice of Joel’s life, running alongside a future mainline entry that shifts the spotlight. In other words, Joel may return—but probably as part of a broader, evolving Last of Us universe.