Troy Baker Open to Returning as Joel in New The Last of Us Stories

Troy Baker, the actor behind Joel in The Last of Us series, has expressed his willingness to return to the franchise for new stories — including a potential prequel exploring Joel and Tommy's early years after the outbreak. In recent interviews, Baker said he is open to any new project in The Last of Us universe and would be ready to join from day one if invited by creative director Neil Druckmann or Naughty Dog.

Baker highlighted his particular interest in the 20-year gap between the start of the apocalypse and the events of the original game, a period he considers rich with untapped narrative potential. "There's this beautiful thing about the mystery of what happened between Tommy and Joel, there is all the time, the 20 years, you've got such beautiful lore to choose from. I think that makes a great foundation for a story," Baker said.

The actor emphasized his trust in Druckmann and the Naughty Dog team to determine the future direction of the franchise, whether that means revisiting the past, continuing existing storylines, or creating something entirely new.

Baker previously stated in April 2026 that he does not believe Joel's story is completely finished, though he did not specify how the character might return. He remains supportive of any creative direction the studio chooses to pursue.

The Last of Us remains a flagship series for Sony. The original game debuted on PS3 in 2013, received a remaster for PS4 in 2014, and was fully remade for PS5 as The Last of Us: Part I in 2022. The Last of Us: Part II launched for PS4 in June 2020 and was remastered for PS5 in January 2024. Currently, Naughty Dog is working on a new project titled Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.

Do you think Joel's story deserves to continue, or should The Last of Us universe move in a new direction?