Naughty Dog Acknowledges Internal Split Over Controversial Story Decision in The Last of Us Part 2
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A former Naughty Dog artist has revealed the studio was internally split over the decision to kill off the character Joel in The Last of Us Part 2. The 2020 leak of this plot point led to severe online harassment directed at the voice actress involved. Studio leadership is now taking proactive steps to prepare actors for potential backlash in future projects.
Facts First
- Naughty Dog was internally split over the decision to kill Joel in The Last of Us Part 2, according to former artist Heather Cerlan.
- The 2020 leak of Joel's death resulted in online abuse and death threats directed at actress Laura Bailey.
- Studio head Neil Druckmann is providing mental preparation to actress Tati Gabrielle for her role in the upcoming game Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
- Actor Troy Baker believes the character Joel will appear again despite his death in Part 2.
What Happened
Former Naughty Dog artist Heather Cerlan stated that most of the studio questioned the decision to kill the character Joel in The Last of Us Part 2 and that the studio was split on the outcome. Prior to the game's release, a leak occurred revealing that the character Abby would kill Joel, which resulted in online abuse and death threats directed at actress Laura Bailey. Laura Bailey stated she saw death threats and threats of violence every time she went online.
Why this Matters to You
If you are a fan of narrative-driven games, this reveals the significant human cost and internal debate behind major creative risks. The severe online harassment faced by an actor highlights a toxic element of fan culture that could discourage studios from taking bold storytelling chances in the future. For actors in high-profile roles, this precedent may mean facing mandated mental preparation, as Naughty Dog is now doing for its next project.
What's Next
Naughty Dog studio head Neil Druckmann is applying lessons from the Part 2 backlash by providing mental 'bootcamp-ing' to actress Tati Gabrielle to prepare her for the potential online reaction to her role in the upcoming game Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. While the character Joel died in Part 2, actor Troy Baker stated last week that he believes Joel will appear again, which could suggest future narrative directions involving the character.