'The Last Of Us 2' News & Update: Did Ellie Kill Joel In Naughty Dog Sequel? ‘Uncharted 4’ Clue Teases Dark New ‘TLOU?’

"The Last Of Us 2" by developer Naughty Dog and creator Neil Druckmann has fans worried that Ellie (Ashley Johnson) killed Joel (Troy Baker). The cryptic "Uncharted 4" easter egg may tease just how dark "The Last Of Us 2" really is.

"The Last Of Us 2" dropped a deceptively simple easter egg inside the chapters of "Uncharted 4: A Thief's End." As Parent Herald cites, the "Uncharted 4" tease dropped a pregnant Ellie seemingly going solo as the protagonist for "The Last Of Us 2."

Just beautiful. Miss that world. #TheLastofUs https://t.co/TJ4EAtcIUd

— Neil Druckmann (@Neil_Druckmann) February 4, 2016

  Granted that Ellie proved her pull as "TLOU" protagonist when Naughty Dog and Neil Druckmann released "The Last Of Us: Left Behind." The success of "The Last Of Us: Left Behind" sales proved that Ellie has sustainable popularity.

Happy Father's Day. pic.twitter.com/NZXWzrpJuq — Neil Druckmann (@Neil_Druckmann) June 19, 2016

If Ellie does become the main protagonist in "The Last Of Us 2," how does she arrive at this solo run in "TLOU 2." Chatt Sports Net cites fan perspective that Ellie killed Joel as a carry over from "The Last Of Us."

The original gameplay previz we did for The Last of Us (back in 2010!) sure brings back memories... https://t.co/wXKItoYlkl

— Neil Druckmann (@Neil_Druckmann) November 6, 2015

The media outlet recalls that, under the guise of misdirected concern, Joel rescued Ellie from the Fireflies in "The Last Of Us." Ellie herself had been willing to give her life up to give hope to mankind, but her fellow "The Last Of Us" lead was not similarly altruistic.

Whether or not "The Last Of Us 2" builds on this premise, the "Uncharted 4" tease is likely pointing to a point much later into "TLOU 2." The media outlet cites an interview between SCPR and Neil Druckmann, where "The Last Of Us" creator revealed his penchant for beginning work on plots from the middle working his way back to the beginning and onto the end.

"We don't write the story chronologically, I'll usually start in the middle," Neil Druckmann stated. "With 'The Last Of Us', it was the middle of the journey where Joel and Ellie were already together and we will write several scenes in succession for that area as we're building a level and as the gameplay mechanics are coming together."

Naughty Dog and Neil Druckmann may be ready to deliver "The Last Of Us 2" for 2018 or early 2019. Once the "Uncharted 4" DLC for single player campaign is released, Naughty Dog and Neil Druckmann will reportedly resume work on "The Last Of Us 2."