Intergalactic Director Teases Return of The Last of Us Actor

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Naughty Dog is secretly developing a new game called Intergalactic. Although the studio hasn’t revealed much about it, director Neil Druckmann hinted that an actor from The Last of Us could be involved. He shared a photo on Instagram of Merle Dandridge in a motion capture suit, playfully calling her an “intergalactic treasure,” suggesting she might reprise her role.

Merle Dandridge has a long history with Naughty Dog, starting with her performance as Marlene in the original The Last of Us game in 2013. She’s since brought the character to life again in The Last of Us Part II and the recent HBO television series. Beyond her work with Naughty Dog, Dandridge is also known for her role as Alyx Vance in Half-Life 2 and its two follow-up episodes.

Recent reports suggest Naughty Dog is making good progress on its new game, possibly targeting a release in mid-2027. However, a report from December indicated that the development process has faced challenges, leading to weeks of required overtime to address missed deadlines. The studio reportedly pushed for extra hours to get the project back on schedule, and some teams also worked long hours to finish the first trailer.

Tony Dalton, the actor known for playing Lalo Salamanca in Better Call Saul and Jack Duquesne in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will also appear in Intergalactic. He recently shared that he became friends with The Last of Us creator Neil Druckmann while working on HBO’s The Last of Us, and that connection led to his role in Intergalactic. Dalton described acting as a video game character as a completely new experience for him.

Dalton described the experience as unlike anything he’d ever done. He explained that performers wear full-body, skin-tight suits covered in tracking dots, even on their faces. He was particularly impressed by the massive and elaborate set design, calling it ‘amazing’.

Troy Baker, the voice actor, has shared that he and Neil Druckmann often disagree while working together, but it’s because they both care deeply about their projects.

Baker explained that he and Neil often playfully disagree, saying it’s just part of their dynamic. He recalled an instance during a table read where they were bickering, and others felt awkward, comparing it to witnessing their parents argue. Baker assured everyone they were okay and that these disagreements are normal for them.

Naughty Dog is currently working on a game called Intergalactic for the PlayStation 5. According to Neil Druckmann, it’s their biggest project to date – more ambitious, larger in scope, and costing more to create than any previous Naughty Dog game.

We’re fully in production and development is going incredibly well. I’ve said this before, but I truly believe this is our most ambitious and expansive game yet – and it’s likely to be our most expensive by the time it’s completed.

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2026-03-23 17:43