Intergalactic Actor Talks About Clashing With Neil Druckmann And Wanting To Be Like George Clooney

GAMING NEWS

Veteran voice actor steps back from lead position after starring in The Last of Us and Uncharted franchises, reveals collaborative friction continues on 2027-targeted sci-fi title.

Baker's transition to supporting roles reflects his broader ambition to build a George Clooney-style career spanning diverse projects.

Troy Baker confirmed his involvement in Naughty Dog's Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet while revealing the creative sparring matches with director Neil Druckmann that defined their previous collaborations on The Last of Us and Uncharted 4 remain unchanged. In an interview with ComicBook, the industry veteran described a recent table read where their professional friction momentarily halted production, prompting Baker to challenge Druckmann mid-session while other cast members joked about parental conflict derailing the project.

The actor's role represents a deliberate career pivot, stepping into a supporting position after anchoring two PlayStation franchises as Joel in The Last of Us and Sam Drake in Uncharted 4. Tati Gabrielle's character Jordan A. Mun takes center stage in Intergalactic, a shift Baker described as liberating after establishing his legacy in the medium through dozens of high-profile performances spanning BioShock Infinite, Death Stranding, and most recently Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

Baker articulated his evolving relationship with game development, emphasizing process over recognition as his priorities shift alongside a career that's included voicing Batman in Lego projects, villain Pagan Min in Far Cry 4, and Agent Jones in Fortnite. His extensive portfolio now encompasses over 100 video game credits alongside music albums and a recurring HBO role in The Last of Us adaptation, positioning him as one of the industry's most recognizable performers.

"I've had a hell of a career. This industry owes me nothing. What a ride. I am enjoying the process more than I do the credit now that I understand more about game development." — Troy Baker

The actor invoked George Clooney as his aspirational template for long-term career management, citing the Oscar winner's ability to alternate between commercial projects like Ocean's Eleven and prestige work such as Michael Clayton while maintaining directorial ambitions. Baker's comparison suggests strategic thinking about longevity in an industry where voice actors rarely achieve mainstream recognition comparable to their screen counterparts, despite his breakthrough into household-name status through PlayStation's flagship franchises.

Druckmann has repeatedly characterized Intergalactic as featuring Naughty Dog's "deepest gameplay" yet, though concrete details remain scarce beyond the retro-futuristic setting and protagonist Jordan A. Mun's role as a bounty hunter. Industry analysts project a 2027 release window at earliest, while speculation persists that the studio is simultaneously developing The Last of Us: Part III following the HBO adaptation's continued success.

Baker's career faced controversy in 2022 when a partnership with blockchain firm Voiceverse drew backlash over AI and plagiarism concerns, prompting him to sever ties and apologize for combative remarks defending the collaboration. The incident preceded his acclaimed performance as Indiana Jones in 2024's The Great Circle, which earned praise from Harrison Ford for achieving authenticity without AI assistance—a validation that restored his standing within the performance capture community.

By Eddie Makuch

3 min read · Nov 16, 2025