Neil Druckmann, head of Naughty Dog, shared early 2003 sketches of Joel and Ellie on Instagram, hinting at 'a few stops' remaining in The Last of Us series. The post reflects on the franchise's journey since its origins as a game pitch about a man, his surrogate daughter, and a trek across post-apocalyptic America. Druckmann has previously discussed concepts for a potential third entry.
Neil Druckmann posted the sketches on Instagram, captioning them: 'Cleaning out the garage today and stumbled on my original sketches from 2003 for a game pitch about a man, his surrogate daughter, and a trek across a broken America.' He added, 'Been a wild journey. Grateful for every part of it, especially the few stops that remain on the road ahead.' The drawings depict early versions of Joel and Ellie, though they differ significantly from the final characters, with one resembling Resident Evil's Leon Kennedy in a Jak and Daxter style. The post suggests more content ahead for The Last of Us, despite mixed signals from Druckmann in recent years. In 2021, he mentioned a story outline and discussions for Part 3. By 2023, he said he was open to it if there was a compelling story, and in 2024, he described a concept as exciting as the first two games, feeling like 'one more chapter.' Last year, however, he advised fans not to 'bet' on another game. Naughty Dog continues to expand the franchise with a PlayStation 5 remaster and PC version of The Last of Us Part II, alongside HBO's upcoming third season of the adaptation. Meanwhile, the studio is developing Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, announced in late 2024, featuring Tati Gabrielle as bounty hunter Jordan A. Mun and exploring themes of faith and religion.