Neil Druckmann, director of The Last of Us, has offered new insights into Naughty Dog's upcoming title, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. In a conversation with Alex Garland, writer of 28 Days Later, Druckmann discussed the four-year development process, acknowledging the polarizing reception of The Last of Us Part II. He jokingly framed Intergalactic as a deliberate shift towards a less controversial theme: faith and religion.
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Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, starring Jordan A. Mun as Tati Gabrielle, unfolds in an alternate history featuring a prominent, yet evolved and distorted religion. The game centers on Jordan's character attempting to become the first person in centuries to leave the planet where this religion is deeply ingrained.
Druckmann hinted at a key plot point: "This whole religion takes place on this one planet, and then at one point, all communication stops. You're playing a bounty hunter chasing her, and she crash lands on this planet." He emphasized the game's focus on isolation and mystery, stating, "So many of our previous games have an ally. I really want you to be lost, confused about what happened, who these people are, their history. To escape—no one's been heard from in 600 years—you have to figure out what happened here."
AnswerSee ResultsRecent news regarding The Last of Us Season 2 confirms the return of spores, a feature absent from Season 1. Showrunners Druckmann and Mazin confirmed this at SXSW 2025, highlighting an escalation in both the number and types of infected, along with a change in the infection vector. Druckmann explained the shift from the tendrils in Season 1 to airborne elements shown in the new trailer. Additionally, actress Kaitlyn Dever, who plays Abby, discussed the challenges of avoiding online reactions to her performance.
