The Last of Us rumour suggests Ellie may not be the only immune survivor after all
Spoiler warning: major story spoilers for The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part 2 below.
A new The Last of Us rumour is making the rounds, and honestly, it is the kind of detail that could completely change how fans look at Joel, Ellie, and the entire series.
Former Naughty Dog lighting artist Gabriel Betancourt, speaking in an interview with YouTuber Kiwi Talkz, claimed that series creator Neil Druckmann once told him something pretty wild: Ellie may not be the only person immune to Cordyceps.
According to Betancourt, Druckmann had talked about a bigger idea for the world, one where there were actually "several people" with immunity, even describing it as "a whole congregation" of that kind of survivor. Betancourt said the concept sounded like part of a more layered story with multiple characters, instead of keeping Ellie as the one singular hope for humanity.
That matters because the emotional backbone of the first game depends heavily on Ellie being unique.
In the original The Last of Us, Joel spends the whole journey trying to get Ellie to the Fireflies because her immunity seems like humanity's best, maybe only, shot at a cure. When he discovers the operation needed to create that cure would kill her, he slaughters the Fireflies and takes her away. For years, that decision has carried huge weight because it looked like Joel chose one person he loved over the future of everyone else.
If there are other immune survivors out there, that changes the conversation a lot.
Suddenly, Joel's choice does not necessarily erase humanity's only chance. The moral dilemma becomes messier, but maybe also less devastating. Betancourt himself seemed unsure about that direction, saying he felt the story's power came from Ellie being the only possible cure. That exclusivity is what gave Joel's decision such heavy consequences in the first place.
Right now, though, fans should take this as an interesting behind-the-scenes story, not a confirmed future plot point.
Betancourt is no longer at Naughty Dog, and this was apparently a conversation from years ago. Game development plans change all the time, especially for a series as closely watched as The Last of Us. There is also still no official announcement for The Last of Us Part 3, even if Druckmann previously hinted earlier this year that there are still "a few stops" left on the franchise's road ahead.
For Malaysian and SEA fans, this rumour hits because The Last of Us is one of those PlayStation series that people here really do treat like a prestige event. Between the games, the HBO adaptation, and endless spoiler discussions on TikTok, YouTube, and Discord, the franchise has a strong fanbase in this region. If Naughty Dog ever moves forward with a third game, any change to Ellie's importance would instantly become a huge debate point among players here too.
And real talk, that debate would be very split. Some fans will like the idea of expanding the world and showing immunity is not a one-off miracle. Others will probably feel it weakens the core tragedy that made the first game hit so hard.
Meanwhile, Naughty Dog's actual confirmed project is still Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, a brand-new franchise announced at the end of 2024. Its first reveal trailer introduced Tati Gabrielle's bounty hunter, Jordan A Mun, with a strong retro-futuristic vibe. Druckmann has also said the game explores themes of faith and religion, so for now, that is where the studio's energy officially seems to be.
So yes, this immunity twist is just a rumour for now, but it is the kind of rumour that gets fans talking because of how much it could reshape the soul of The Last of Us. And if Naughty Dog ever does go there, you can bet the reactions will be loud.
Source: Eurogamer
