Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson’s Original Auditions For Joel and Ellie (The Last of Us)

Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson’s Original Auditions For the roles of Joel and Ellie in The Last of Us Part I.
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[@jacksparrow9227]

Would've been shit any other way

[@js100serch]

I like Troy's anecdote on this. He was about to leave the room, because he was surrounded by actors that looked exactly like Joel, and he was this young skinny, blond guy, he thought he didn't have a chance. But it was too late to leave, so he had to walk in there and do the audition.

[@risrange09]

the way he is so easily able to immerse himself into his characters amazes me

[@merdemoiii-7589]

W Troy Baker

[@Daemon1995_]

Key to success is to be prepared

[@tzka4222]

the rest is history...

[@MauiWowieOwie]

Even with game capture it doesn't matter what you look like, it matters how well you can voice act. He was also already pretty well established, not nearly as he is now, by then and most of them being in games.

[@ChadMichaelSimon]

I don’t know where Troy found Joel right out of the gate like this, but it comes out of him like a separate being.

[@GAF516]

Great comment! Sums it up perfectly 👍

[@razorbackroar]

He is from Texas he knows the southern accent well

[@SimsinWonderland]

That's a great character actor for ya

[@MarylandDude9005]

For real!

[@ChadMichaelSimon]

@PatrickBateman215 Ah, PB215, my old friend, my arch nemesis, my foil in all things related to joy. Happy Christmas to you, and May the Troy laugh all the way to the bank.

[@Badusername2000]

Funniest thing about troy is the fact he has this great range, and can play Joel without a hint of doubt, but he looks like the frontman of a pop punk band

[@safechemical4463]

@d R I don't think it's a band, but he made songs under the name of Window To The Abbey

[@Jimstriker]

He was the frontman of a band.

[@theprodigalson4003]

Makes him cooler imo. He’s a fantastic performer

[@gbmnky]

He's batman, joker and also Joel; This guy is a genius of voice acting. Yet is very funny how a guy that looks more like a vocalist from linkin park can do all this stuff with such perfection.

[@ColdHawk]

@@gbmnky - Now you can add Dr. Wyatt Taylor in Fort Solis to that list. The range is really incredible. That is a towering talent right there.

[@Ken_himura]

The shrug Ashley gave and her hands in her pocket made me believe she was meant for the role.

[@vin_rouge180]

yesss

[@pandaketamine]

Stamp?

[@Midnight-dy1bt]

@@pandaketamine 0:33

[@lottji]

true but u cant exactly improv putting your hands in your pockets when you're wearing 1 of those motion-capture suits 😂

[@Nubby6370]

the difference between the first guy and troy baker is intense, troy is awesome Edit:i was talking about the guy just before troy, not the car scene

[@saraheverardNZ]

So true, and the only one not holding a script.

[@ultrabigfella]

Don't disrespect Robin Atkin Downes like that.

[@ultrabigfella]

@@saraheverardNZ it was probably later in the audition process because Ashley Johnson isn't holding one either.

[@Nubby6370]

@@ultrabigfella she was already cast so i think she just knew the lines

[@theLonelyLemnn]

That was Robin Downes, he voiced Robert. Look him up and you'll be surprised how many voices he does for Naughty Dog alone.

[@jwm1444]

Little do we know that Troy Baker just talks like Joel naturally and his other voice is specifically for media appearances.

[@Durzy007]

No, he don't. Naturally his voice is sooo different from Joel's.

[@tonypepperoni3679]

@@Durzy007 bruh... are you seriously whooshing right now?

[@fucka1386]

@@tonypepperoni3679 Reddit slang is cringe as hell but in this case fortunately for you I’m going to allow it

[@genesiscda4847]

@@Durzy007he’s from Texas, and said in an interview something along the lines of “my original voice sounds a lot like Joel’s.” I don’t remember what interview, just that it was a Last of Us interview several years back. He’s an actor. A lot of actors/actresses have speech training to remove their accents to make themselves more versatile.

[@korpakukac]

​@@Durzy007denser than lead...

[@Mediados]

This is great to see. The first fuy was not bad by any means, but Troy Baker had the edge that seperates a good actor from a great actor. He doesn't play a character, he is the character. He gives Joel his personal note and his Troy's personality makes the character one of a kind.

[@hitmaniac]

the first guy(Robin Atkin Downes) wasnt auditioning, it was Ashley's audition, he was just standing in for Joel's part.

[@thejason347]

@@hitmaniac Rumors say he secretly hoped he would preform so outstanding that they would give him the part anyway. But it's not confirmed. Because it's hard to factcheck secret hopes.

[@Mediados]

@Darth Desec Says the guy using a completely unneccesary smh

[@darkknight2285]

The first guy finally plays Robert, the guy that stole your weapons at the beginning and you killed him before met Marlene

[@dutchmilk]

no

[@DanThompsonbateria]

Troy went there with no script on hand and just delivered, just awesome. And this gave me chills when he started to talk.

[@sdrxke]

Troy looks nothing like the idea of Joel but his voice fits whoever he plays perfectly, it’s like another person takes place inside him to play that character, he becomes them for the time he plays them and it’s just ❤❤❤

[@vedantbhard]

his joker voice is insane too

[@peterang6912]

Is Troy not the voice-actor in the video-game???

[@patootie3529]

​@@peterang6912 tf he is lol. I think u read the comment wrong

[@peterang6912]

@@patootie3529 no i'm not, i didn't know who Troy was...

[@maddie3077]

Just give him 20 years

[@mizzrachii2229]

Ashley is just the perfect ellie I'm so glad she got the role!

[@anon8079]

Got the role?

[@Greendawn-di3dl]

The role a million years ago? Yes I agree? I think?

[@makethman9171]

What they meant was the role for the game not the series

[@Greendawn-di3dl]

@@makethman9171 no no, I got it.

[@makethman9171]

@@Greendawn-di3dl ahh, mb then

[@MauiWowieOwie]

Both are very talented VAs, but it's so wild to see Troy just completely change. It's not just having a wide range, but completely changing from his normal voice.

[@Superman_305]

Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson are the greatest duo ever put together in a video game. I just finished the remastered version and I can definitively say without a shadow of a doubt the last of us is my favorite video game of all-time damn it had me on an emotional rollercoaster.

[@OCFLAboi407]

Take it easy chief. Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill are still the top greatest duo in a video game. Troy and Ashley are definitely top contenders though.

[@kamentrainerhorn2073]

In the scene where Ellie brought up Sarah, Joel said that she was "treading on some 'mighty' thin ice" in the final cut. Aside from reminding us that he was a Tex, it felt less threatening than Troy's audition take, where he says "treading on some 'very' thin ice." I kinda prefer the final take because of what Joel and Ellie's relationship had become by that point. But, it's neat to see how Ashley and Troy played these characters before they were more established with their roles (still boss acting, which shows how boss those two are).

[@vin_rouge180]

excuse me, Texans use very often the word mighty? I'm not from usa so I don't know about accents and all that.

[@justanotherfangirl9929]

I always took mighty as more threatening than very?

[@justfuckit4815]

@@justanotherfangirl9929 guess it depends on the voice and where the person places the accents on. I found that very is more hostile and mighty is more pleading.

[@JorgenRuizGarcia]

@@justfuckit4815 Also in this first take Troy is taking a couple of steps toward Ashley, while in the final take Joel is standing still.

[@adriantrusca1245]

You guys have way too much time on your hands.

[@johancakep]

The moment Troy said "what?", his posture and voice change sent chills down my spine.

[@AnkitSinghKushwah]

The transformation from Troy to Joel was unbelievable. Two different people. Two legends met that day

[@leonardfabian8942]

Man i got chills watching this great acting from both of them.

[@KerioFive]

Can't imagine anyone else as Joel, Troy KILLED IT

[@waterbakey4330]

You don't have to imagine anymore. Pedro Pascal is also killing it.

[@KerioFive]

@@waterbakey4330 Agreed 😎

[@Justsomerandomdude397]

@@waterbakey4330 nah

[@tmm4195]

@@Justsomerandomdude397I mean he’s doing pretty great

[@Mike-ol7gt]

Clanplayz Think your opinion might be outweighed by the general consensus of Pedro's portrayal.....knocking it out the park.

[@pikeflowed]

Joel is a master of becoming a character and discovering the emotional truth of them, i would have loved to see a longer scene and without any music but this is Great, and to see Ashley and their interaction is a thing of beauty but also the comparison of her acting with the other actors. The right choices for the parts were made thankfully. Thanks for the upload !

[@fruitball733]

her voice is so perfect

[@MauiWowieOwie]

I remember when I was getting into DnD and started listening to Critical Role. I kept thinking, "hey that Pike character sounds really familiar for some reason." After about two or three episodes in I finally realized, "holy shit, that's Ellie!"

[@Pointillax]

ouh that last line gave me goosebumps

[@kfactor20]

I don’t exactly have any plans to become an actor, at the moment. But actors like Troy and Ashley certainly make me think about it from time to time. I’m a very emotional guy and appreciate a lot of the heavy scenes these guys do and love the emotions I get from watching them. It makes me think about how fun it would possibly be to do that myself. It’d probably be amateur acting at best but it’d still be a hell of a lot of fun

[@TMeek94]

Go for it and good luck

[@shmoga]

im going to be a astronaut when i grow up!

[@EfySmasher]

We only live once, i think you should try it up

[@kfactor20]

@@shmoga good for you man

[@DanielSlva]

I had that exact same feeling before trying acting. Then I tried it and found out that I absolutely love acting and that I want it for the rest of my life.

[@PaxxTan]

Their voices give me so much serotonin

[@joaquingill6310]

Troy Baker's always sending chills down my spine I don't know how he does it

[@cherryhazard8002]

Troy is such a good actor! His acting is some of the best I've seen, always get chills whenever I hear his voice on a game. Conveys the emotions so well and you can see on his eyes that he truly has a passion for this.

[@anthonybolony2460]

10 years later one of the greatest games ever made so Glad Ashley and Troy took this legendary video game character

[@misterkevinoh]

Would love to see a version of Joel from Robin Atkin Downes, but Troy's Joel was just on another level. According to Troy it wasn't until he took an acting note from someone at the casting table did Neil decide that Troy might have a chance. They were going to turn him down before that note!

[@TeaGamingPanda]

Curious what that note was! Thank God we got Troy as Joel and be interesting see that version. That’s what’s amazing about acting and auditions, the “what if” if one was to lose or win that role. Also intense and scary!

[@garethhughes7430]

@@TeaGamingPanda Sometimes with auditions, its the ability to modify your performance to their notes, not the performance itself, that they're looking for.

[@gergopiroska5749]

Didn't he play Robert in the game? And i believe he voiced a few hunters too

[@scottm8292]

@@gergopiroska5749 Yes, Robin Atkin Downes was Robert.

[@mildlyangryguy6292]

The actual recorded line when he says "ELLIE!" never fails to give me chills when I watch or remember that scene.

[@Ginric99]

the great thing about these videos is that we are seeing that Video Game actors have become far more then just Voice Actors, there movements and behaviour on the "set" directly feed into how the game makers animate those scenes.

[@optiTHOMAS]

Absolutely legendary actors! 😁👍🏻

[@InvinciDon]

I love this audition tape so much

[@toomanylies7716]

I mean.....they killed it. What wonderful performances!

[@gtone339]

Troy: "You have no idea what loss is!"

[@MariusBoss11458]

Also love Pedro's take on it.

[@MarylandDude9005]

Pretty great line

[@TheSonicKidMC]

Ellie: Everyone I had care for has either died of left me. Everyone- **Pushes Joel** F*****G EXCEPT FOR YOU. So DON'T tell me that i would be safer with someone else because the truth is I would just be more scared.

[@clarkejoseph49]

@@TheSonicKidMC Joel: (Starts crying his eyes out) You’re right. You’re not my Daughter and I sure as Hell ain’t your Dad. And we are going our separate ways.

[@Centaur1991]

Troy, the best game/anime voice actor, still goes to audition.

[@MauiWowieOwie]

He wasn't on the level he is now back then. He was still pretty well established, but it isn't like now where they'll just cast him if he accepts their offer.

[@NtoTheM]

Where the hell does that man take this voice from. When I watch him talk about anything he sounds like a completely different person. Voice actors, man. Truly impressive. Also, younger Ashley is just peak-adorable.

[@NutsItsBerserkinTime]

I didn't know she played as Annie in the movie Annie: A royal adventure, the movie was pretty bad tho 😂

[@EmileVinesh]

I'm pretty sure the guy at 0:20 is Paul Mercier, who did the voice for Leon S Kennedy in the original Resident Evil 4.

[@captainwatercress]

CHILLS when Troy came in!

[@xXtuscanator22Xx]

Troy Baker is one of the best voice actors. Dude has madddd roles under his belt

[@sdrxke]

Troy is just 10/10 in anything he’s in

[@raine5548]

I hope they release something like this for the TV Show. I’d love to see Bella’s audition!

[@MauiWowieOwie]

Bella's audition: "Have you seen Game of Thrones?" She doesn't look anything like Ellie, but it doesn't matter because she's an amazing actress.

[@raine5548]

@@MauiWowieOwie Oh, I know! She’s great as Ellie. I just want to see her knock it out of the park

[@maybeee7990]

Apparently the audition tape was all she had to see for Ashley to say "that's the one."

[@jarnonooij80]

This gave me the goosebumps... I'm scared and excited for the series

[@ohtrueyeahnah]

Have you finished the show? Drink plenty of water because you're gonna cry!

[@Hollowdarling]

Dude I always forget Troy Baker did Joel, because I also know him as Joker. Truly a talented voice actor when you can switch your voice that much and nail it that well.

[@kengiro0599]

Ive always known troy baker as Mitchell from Advanced Warfare

[@AGoodVibe]

Chills. Troy’s delivery is just stunning.

[@iputarsenicinthewine]

oh wow the writing definitely improved by the time they were doing final mo-cap

[@Cybertron-cs7sk]

Breathtaking performances ❤ right out of the gate! These actors will go far one day!!!

[@MeiZ125]

There is just something about Troy

[@smn2005]

*Troy walks in* *Shake hands* Directors: Okay, you're hired.

[@dms1015]

Gives me chills. They both absolutely crushed these roles.

[@SgtSnoobis]

Robin Atkin Downes causally wearing the green Joel flannel before that was even a thing that existed lol

[@PDXpackrat]

If I recall the story correctly, that first guy had pissed Ashley off (who was already cast as Ellie) for some reason and she was in a bad mood from it, and Troy came in and somehow sensed she was upset, and asked if he could give her a hug. That was a pivotal moment for her.

[@amyhintz471]

Everybody talkin about Troy and how he switches on Joel's voice in an instant, - and he does, and it's amazing, I love it - but kudos also to Pedro Pascal who did the same thing, and who also happens to be a Texan like Mr. Baker. I love people who can just turn on the Texan just like that *snapping fingers emoji*

[@ohtrueyeahnah]

Holy crap! he really did have a Final Fantasy haircut with the Ed Hardy shirt and bedazzled jeans! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Love this man

[@hammywoods]

Couldn't have said it better 🤣

[@binary1123]

The fact nobody recognizes Robin Atkin Downes (the first guy, who was also in the Uncharted games) is very upsetting, he could of done amazing too!

[@ariseharbinger4799]

had a feeling it was him, never heard him pull of a American accent before

[@triangleman2k6]

Kaz!

[@maybeee7990]

According to Ashley's Between The Sheets episode, a lot of the guys auditioning for Joel were being assholes to her and making her really upset and Troy was the one she clicked with.

[@lrmcatspaw1]

Troy Baker was like: Imma show em how its done.

[@GrndAdmiralThrawn]

I can’t believe THIS was the audition scene

[@luuketaylor]

It's fun seeing Robin Atkin Downes be the stand-in for Joel at the beginning there. The man has played so many amazing characters, Tenzin being my favorite. Robert is good too. Alcazar, also.

[@price5647]

0:55 this is the moment they become joel and ellie

[@kingjames6731]

I'm sure the SECOND he said that "thin ice" line they knew IMMEDIATLEY he was the guy

[@jingleballs9935]

It’s his voice that won him the role. Just a great voice actor

[@tblack121]

goosebumps when troy baker makes the entry!

[@VGMR]

THE SHORTEST OF US!

[@cjrebirth]

Started to play this game a few days ago, and all I could hear whenever Ellie spoke at times was Ashley's Teen Titans character

[@normalguycap]

Troy needs to read this quote: "Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to the unhealthy state of things." --WINSTON CHURCHILL.

[@hankfrance4559]

This moment led to her meeting Brian Foster lol

[@italoa.9168]

wait, how did they meet?

[@DarkLawYGO]

@@italoa.9168 Brian is friends with Troy and in a way set them up.

[@hankfrance4559]

@@italoa.9168 they met at Troy's wedding bc he was Troy and Travis's roommate for a while. They exchanged emails apparently lol

[@MarylandDude9005]

Really? That’s interesting.

[@deathbykonami5487]

My coworker said Troy Baker is the second coming of Jim Cummings in the VO industry, and I think that's accurate.

[@thisishowitallends9321]

How does she manage to sound so young 😶

[@gtone339]

Years of voice acting

[@beautepley8352]

I like that they switched very to mighty in the game

[@playstationgirl0816]

Perfect casting 👌🏻

[@Ice.muffin]

SO used to seeing Joel's persona with that same voice that my mind couldn't process what was seeing and hearing! I kept thinking it was doubled over when I heard Joel's voice come out of his actor's mouth, such a surreal feeling lmfao xD😅

[@JDWindtPlaysGuitar]

goosebumps on the "very thin ice" line. Troy and Ashley had such amazing chemistry

[@CHotell96]

Seeing the jarring difference between the first two and Baker is like "Oh, duh yeah this is *the* guy."

[@CAROLGAMERLIFE]

Joel is Troy, Troy is Joel Ellie is Ashley, Ashley is Ellie.

[@DroctorKloebner]

I like how she pets him on the shoulder like "don't worry. you got this!" and well he obviously did.

[@adamturner5005]

that scene always gets to me, cause to say that to a man whos lost his daufhter is bold. the fact troys voice is so raspy is perfect.

[@mikehunt8247]

Troy baker really deserves all the credit he can get. To be able to slay the role of Joel and be able to play in a game to the caliber of metal gear and others this dude Is like the next gen David hayter.

[@BabyItsSunny]

It just leaves you speechless

[@tomyoldiron6715]

Wow, medic from tf2 almost became joel

[@BatmanHQYT]

Fucking incredible. Very fascinating hearing an early draft of this scene too.

[@vladimirimp]

Treading on 'mighty thin ice' is the stand out line for me in the game. It's fun to see it here as 'very thin ice'.

[@RandomNut86]

this is such a good example of how "game" acting is a skill in and of itself. both of these fine actors demonstrate how not only do they have to convey through tone, but also provide vital visual cues that have to be exaggerated enough to work in game, but subtle enough to not look hammy. God of war cast show this as well. its a skill all of its own, much like being in theatre is not the same as on screen. I really hope to see this method of acting gain more recognition. As the mighty Judge said, games used to be where actors went to end their careers...not the same now. The last of Us is a masterpiece of storytelling.

[@goodjoe9754]

Thank God for Troy Baker !

[@ratclinic]

Naw no way was that Robin Atkin Downes in the first scene? I'm playing Metal Gear Solid V rn and this feels kinda surreal to see rn.

[@TheRoarWithin]

Love them both.

[@MarylandDude9005]

That’s pretty cool to see!

[@mrjemenai]

Dammit Troy is just GOOD.

[@victor_734]

0:39 wow the first time Neil and Troy meet

[@zaiivonhest]

He is and always will be, booker dewitt

[@vickyvey1657]

love both !!!

[@miklo5755]

Troy's just amazing

[@tiyopaenguin]

That guy sounds like he could exterminate an entire building full of fireflies.

[@seinfan9]

Troy is an amazing actor.

[@cptairwolf]

Troy Baker is just so good...

[@wh3nderson95]

The first one was Robin Atkin Downes. Great VA and recurring actor for Uncharted.

[@JamesCarolan1993]

WOW that gave me goosebumps.

[@PeterParker-lf7ft]

Awesome video.

[@JamesCarolan1993]

The way Troy says ‘because I’m a big coward’ was so layered. It had a tone of sarcasm, which means he was considering the perception that Ellie had of him. But he also knew it wasn’t true because he said it in a rushed manner as he was walking away. He doesn’t give the thought any credence.

[@MauiWowieOwie]

most people don't realize that voice acting is ACTING. It's more than just reading lines off a page in an accent/different voice. Pedro who plays Joel in the show would routinely act out parts when voicing the Mandalorian(because 99% of the show is just his voice)

[@fajarkurniawan9434]

Dang I thought VA’s only standing still reading the script They really has to do all the movements, expressions Wow no wonder they feel so real

[@DanShortell]

Naughty Dog have a full length documentary about the making of TLOU called "Grounded" - You MUST find it on KZbin and watch it you'll be amazed how much effort they put in behind the scenes!

[@mickeysantos8846]

When Troy comes to an audition Other voice actors - oh shit 🤦‍♂️

[@teresaavalos4804]

They were perfect for the roles.

[@Rocky-or4rz]

All those voice actors were good, but Troy is a legend. His Joker is damn good to.

[@primalwolfe4711]

Mark is better tho no one can replace Mark

[@Rocky-or4rz]

@@primalwolfe4711 well someone has to, Hamill has said he will not do Joker any more after Conroy passing away