‘I was a little pissed’

Ned Luke, the actor who brought Michael De Santa to life, previously shared his candid thoughts on HBO’s The Last of Us adaptation. When talking about the TV series led by Neil Druckmann, Luke expressed his admiration for the series but jokingly admitted to feeling “a little pissed” about not being included.

When Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto V launched, few anticipated the cultural phenomenon it would become. At the heart of its appeal are characters like Michael, brought to life by the voice actor Ned Luke, whose memorable performance became an iconic part of the game’s legacy.

Neil Druckmann Could Do The Funniest Thing For TLOU Season 2

Ned Luke’s initial reactions to The Last of Us adaptation began with his admiration for the series. In an interview with YouTuber Dan Allen, Luke admitted he enjoyed watching the show and praised its authentic approach to the beloved franchise.

Unlike many adaptations, which often miss the mark, The Last of Us has completely blown the world away and brought in new fans of the series. Luke noted the series’ quality and cultural impact, admiring how Druckmann and his team preserved the heart of the story that resonated so deeply with fans of the original game.

Despite his admiration, Luke admitted he couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed at being left out of the project. Although many of The Last of Us video game cast members made cameos in the series, Luke was absent. This is obvious since he wasn’t a part of the game in the first place.

He conveyed his sentiment with humor but it was clear he would have enjoyed a role in the adaptation. This led to a playful moment in his interview where he jokingly asked Druckmann, Naughty Dog’s co-president, and the show’s co-creator, if he might still have a chance to appear in future seasons.

Let’s Hope To See More Fun Cameos in Season 2

The bond between voice actors and their video game characters often goes beyond typical acting roles. In the case of TLOU, several original voice actors, including Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson, made cameo appearances in the show.

“i love that i’m able to play her mom and bring her into this world, but also be the first one to fight for her to keep her alive”

ASHLEY JOHNSON ON PLAYING ELLIE’S MOM ANNA IM CRYING pic.twitter.com/qFAGxBADLu

— reagan (@616NATSROMANOFF) March 14, 2023

Baker, who voiced Joel, played James, an antagonist, while Johnson, who Troy Baker, who voiced Joel in the games, played a minor character named James in the series, while Ashley Johnson, the original Ellie, appeared as Ellie’s mother, Anna.

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While TLOU and GTA V fall under vastly different genres, both have achieved landmark success, cementing their places in gaming history. Luke himself has described GTA V as “insane, comedy, madness” and compared it with Red Dead Redemption 2‘s more grounded, cinematic storytelling.

The HBO adaptation of TLOU is expected to be even better in its second season, which will cover the game’s sequel, The Last of Us Part II. Druckmann and HBO have teased the possibility of new character interpretations and expanding roles, leaving room for actors like Luke to express interest in future involvement.

Luke may have been joking but with the increasing amount of voice actors getting screen roles, he may very well be a part of it. Fans of both the games and the adaptations would likely appreciate seeing familiar faces and hearing familiar voices in these new contexts.

What do you think of a potential casting for Luke in TLOU Season 2? Let us know in the comments!