Sony Interactive Entertainment and Naughty Dog almost commissioned an anonymous studio to make Preview of The Last of Us, revealed Neil Druckmann. The game would have featured Ellie’s parents.
Naughty Dog also considered The Last of Us prequel DLC
The prequel would have featured the same content that Druckmann had previously revealed to be considered for DLC at some point. He reportedly focused on Ellie’s background and parents. While Anna isn’t entirely new to the show, this would have been the first time Ellie’s father was discussed.
To make up for the canned content, Ellie’s mother, Anna, was more appropriately featured on the HBO television series, played by none other than Ellie’s voice actor, Ashley Johnson.
It was Kinda Funny’s Greg Miller who introduced Naughty Dog to the studio whom Druckmann spoke with for “a good while” before talks came to fruition. That it was Miller who presented the study indicates that it was an outside developer.
Such was Naughty Dog’s dedication to making the prequel a reality that it even considered an animated short. But it wasn’t meant to be.
Greg Miller almost helped create a “Last of Us” prequel game! pic.twitter.com/Ysg9o4xzgB
— Kinda Funny (@KindaFunnyVids) March 13, 2023
Druckmann naturally didn’t explain why the talks fell through and why Naughty Dog ultimately canceled all content plans.