Although The Last of Us Part III has yet to be officially announced, Troy Baker, the voice actor behind Joel, says he’s open to returning to the franchise in any form—including a prequel exploring Joel and Tommy’s lives before the events of the original game.
Speaking with Insider Gaming, Baker was asked whether he’d be interested in a game focused on the brothers’ survival during the 20-year gap following the Cordyceps outbreak.
Baker says he trusts Naughty Dog’s direction
Baker didn’t hesitate when discussing the possibility of returning.
“I would be on board with anything,”
he said.
“If Neil [Druckmann] decides that he has a place for me, then I’ve learned at this point to listen to him, because he’s really smart.”
He also believes the unexplored relationship between Joel and Tommy offers plenty of storytelling opportunities.
“There’s this beautiful thing about the mystery of what happened between Tommy and Joel,”
Baker explained, adding that the 20-year gap before Ellie enters Joel’s life provides
“such beautiful lore to choose from.”
A prequel isn’t the only possibility
While Joel’s fate in The Last of Us Part II makes a traditional sequel appearance unlikely outside of flashbacks, Baker isn’t ruling out other creative directions.
“I’ve also learned to trust Naughty Dog, and maybe there’s a whole other story there that we’re not thinking about,”
he said.
Baker concluded by leaving the decision entirely to the studio.
“I’m going to let Neil and Naughty Dog decide… are we looking back? Are we going to revisit something? Or are we going to continue to reinvent. That’s their call.”
For now, Naughty Dog remains focused on its upcoming sci-fi title Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, meaning any future The Last of Us project is likely still some time away. However, Baker’s comments suggest he’d happily return if the studio finds the right story to tell.
