Voice actor Troy Baker plays Joel in the game and was skeptical about the TV adaptation.
In a conversation with Wired, Baker talks about his doubts about the film adaptation. He discussed this with Neil Druckmann, who co-developed both the games and the series. Only after reading the screenplay did Baker change his mind.
Skepticism expressed
Baker says: “I have a certain idea about the story and the characters. A series didn’t seem necessary to me, and I told Neil that too. When I asked him why, Neil replied ‘because there are people who never play games. This is a strong story and can stand on its own”.
Try the sum
The voice actor then read the screenplay and was pleasantly surprised. “I thought my version was the only true version. Through the process of adaptation, I realized that things are different. The ‘The Last of Us’ world and its inhabitants are strong enough for another medium,” concludes Baker.
Given the various lapses in video game adaptation, Troy’s concerns were understandable. The Last of Us however, managed to find the perfect balance. Some scenes are literally from the game, while other elements have been reworked in an appropriate way.
The Last of Us enjoy the success and this is with the approval of ‘the other Joel’.
The Last of Us you can view on HBO Max.
Below is a short interview with Baker:
