Troy Baker Hints Joel May Return Despite Character’s Death

Troy Baker, the prolific and veteran voice actor behind Joel in Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us series, has teased that fans have “not seen the last of Joel”—despite the character’s canonical death in both the games and the HBO television adaptation.

“We’ve Not Seen the Last of Joel”

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.” He declined to elaborate on the remark, leaving its meaning open to interpretation—but it has sparked widespread speculation among fans and industry observers.

Possible Avenues for Joel’s Return

While Joel died definitively in The Last of Us Part II and in Season 1 of the HBO series, several plausible narrative pathways could reintroduce him:

• A prequel game or project set earlier in the timeline—potentially exploring Joel’s life before the outbreak;
• An HBO series flashback or non-linear sequence, especially given that Season 2 is expected to premiere in 2027 and will incorporate significant time shifts;
• A cross-medium expansion, such as film, animated series, comic books, or immersive live experiences—consistent with Baker’s broader vision for the character.

Baker’s Broader Vision for Joel

Baker emphasized Joel’s enduring cultural resonance—noting how fans continue to portray him at cosplay events—and expressed hope that the character will be “proliferated and iterated on in multiple mediums,” including TV, film, additional games, and comic books.

Naughty Dog’s Upcoming Projects

Naughty Dog currently has two single-player games in development. Only one has been officially confirmed: Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. The identity of the second title remains unannounced—fueling speculation that it could be either a third mainline The Last of Us game or Uncharted 5.

Baker’s Aspirations Beyond Voice Acting

In the same Eurogamer interview, Baker revealed his ambition to found his own game studio. However, fellow voice actor and studio founder Abubakar Salim cautioned him against it—describing the industry as a “ruthless” space.