'The Last of Us 2' Spoilers: Neil Druckmann Says No Happy Ending For Joel and Ellie in Upcoming Sequel
"The Last of Us" was never meant for happy endings. But on a subjective note, the game still concluded on a positive note with the main protagonists, Joel and Ellie, sticking with each other to the very end. They may not be so lucky when the game comes around for another installment.
In an interview with an Israel-based newspaper, writer and director Neil Druckmann teased that while the first game was all about the irrational love of a parent for his child, the second title, "The Last of Us 2," will mainly feature a "cycle of violence and hatred." He also said that since he did not feel the need to write a happy ending for part one, he would also not be pressuring himself to write a positive ending for the sequel.
While this may be the case, Druckmann still assured fans of the game that despite an unfavorable ending, the characters will still find a way to understand the world around them "through a complex character," which is something that he has previously done.
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The reveal trailer for the game that was released at the PlayStation Experience late last year featured Ellie angrily declaring that she was going to find and kill "every last one of them."
While the reason behind her vengeful words was never made clear, some fans were quick to deduce that her guardian, Joel, could already be dead in "The Last of Us 2." It was speculated that the man who came to ask her if she was really going to do what she planned was a mere hallucination of the guardian who once did everything in his power to keep her alive.
GamesRadar+ has gathered fan theories supporting this idea, from Joel looking unnaturally pristine to him appearing out of the light like an apparition. There were even some fans who suggested that it is Ellie, not Joel, who is dead. But this is unlikely since Naughty Dog has already confirmed that Ellie will be a playable character in "The Last of Us 2."
As for a release date, nothing has been announced yet. Druckmann has reportedly confirmed that creative work on the game is still ongoing.
