Exclusive: Neil Druckmann's Marvel Collaboration Revealed After The Last of Us - You Won't Believe What's Next!

Neil Druckmann's increased role at Naughty Dog indicates a bright future for the studio. Although their games are a collaborative effort, Druckmann's writing and directing have greatly enhanced recent releases. Therefore, it is worth considering his personal interest in future game projects. Once The Last of Us concludes, it would be logical to follow his top choice.

While The Last of Us spin-off multiplayer and a potential third installment are possibilities, Naughty Dog's plans beyond that remain a mystery. Despite its impressive sales, Uncharted was retired, possibly hinting at a similar fate for The Last of Us. Rumors suggest that Naughty Dog may be developing a sci-fi game with a lighter tone. However, if the studio aims to continue exploring dark storytelling after The Last of Us, adapting Marvel's Punisher could be an ideal choice.

Naughty Dog is Perfect For a Punisher Video Game

In 2021, during an interview with Kinda Funny's Greg Miller, Neil Druckmann expressed his interest in adapting certain properties for video games. His response, similar to previous inquiries, sparked intrigue, much like Cory Barlog's fantasy of a Mandalorian video game. Neil's answer included well-known IPs such as Hotline Miami and Half Life, but what truly caught attention were his mentions of Marvel heroes Punisher and Ghost Rider, as well as Cowboy Bebop. Surprisingly, The Punisher ranked first among his choices.

The Punisher holds a prominent position in Marvel due to remarkable comic book runs like Punisher MAX by Garth Ennis, as well as a highly acclaimed television series featuring Jon Bernthal. While a subpar writer might reduce a Punisher project to mindless violence, portraying Frank Castle as a one-dimensional killer, a masterful writer and director like Neil Druckmann would undoubtedly bring out the best in Marvel's most lethal anti-hero.

The Last of Us presents a violent world that showcases Naughty Dog's uncompromising nature in portraying the character of Frank Castle. However, the franchise's well-developed characters, such as Ellie and Abby, also demonstrate Naughty Dog's ability to create depth. Players would witness the toll of Frank's rampages, delve into the events that shaped his character, and more. This aligns with Naughty Dog's mostly linear gameplay style, which would not suit Frank in an open world setting like Spider-Man.

Considering that Insomniac Games, another Sony-owned studio, has successfully explored the Marvel universe with its games like Marvel's Spider-Man and the upcoming Marvel's Wolverine, there already exists a working relationship between PlayStation and the comic book brand. Given Naughty Dog's outstanding reputation, it would be a tremendous mistake for Marvel not to allow them to tell a story featuring one of its best characters. The success of such a project would be assured. While there is currently no confirmation on whether this game is more than just an idea from Druckmann, it is difficult to envision Marvel lacking interest if the concept were properly presented.

Naughty Dog should not solely focus on adaptations, as their original content is among the best in the video game history. However, incorporating one adaptation, particularly The Punisher, would be beneficial. It is hoped that this perfect match goes beyond a mere Tweet and that Druckmann gets the opportunity to create an authentic Frank Castle story with Naughty Dog's superior craftsmanship.