Voice actor Troy Baker revealed in a recent interview that he was happy to see someone else play Joel Miller in The Last of Us' television adaptation.
In a video on the HBO Max YouTube channel, Baker answered numerous questions about the recent adaptation, including his expectations for the series and the differences between the video game and the show. When asked what he was most excited to see, Baker said he "really wanted to see what it'd look like for someone else to play Joel." He went on to add that he was also eager to see the new characterization of Frank, an integral character that Joel meets about halfway through the game.
Baker served as the voice of Joel Miller in both The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part II, though in the TV adaptation, the role went to The Mandalorian star Pedro Pascal. He stars alongside his fellow Game of Thrones alum Bella Ramsey, who plays 14-year-old Ellie. Both actors have received praise for their performances, with Pascal in particular earning rave reviews for his emotional showing during The Last of Us' expanded prologue.
The Last of US Comes to TV
The Last of Us is based on the 2013 game of the same name, developed by Naughty Dog. Set in a ruinous United States destroyed by a pandemic and inhabited by dangerously mutated humans, the narrative follows Joel and Ellie's journey through the desolate landscape to assist in the creation of a cure. The game's creator, Neil Druckmann, helped adapt the story for television and served as both an executive producer and director on the series.
The Last of Us' premiere received positive reviews from critics, with some early reviews of the series dubbing it one of the "first great TV shows of 2023." In CBR's review, Sam Stone praised the series' faithfulness to the original video game, though said it is "completely accessible for those unfamiliar" with the source material. Fans have expressed similar sentiments and have complimented The Last of Us' diversity push. Despite the series' runaway success, it remains unclear whether HBO will develop The Last of Us Part II's Ellie-centered story for television.
The Last of Us airs on HBO and releases new episodes on HBO Max every Sunday.
Source: YouTube