Tati Gabrielle, who stars in Naughty Dog’s forthcoming game, revealed that Neil Druckmann, the studio head, has been instrumental in her preparations for this role. His guidance has been particularly valuable given the strong online reactions that followed the unveiling of The Last of Us Part 2.
In the new science fiction title, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Gabrielle will take on the character of bounty hunter Jordan A Mun. Although she has previously appeared in adaptations of video game franchises like the Uncharted film and portrayed Nora in The Last of Us series, this is her first foray into acting in a video game itself.
Diving into her role, Gabrielle described her experience as a sort of mental “bootcamp,” facilitated by Druckmann, as she prepares to take center stage.
Alert: Spoilers for The Last of Us Part 2 are discussed!
She also mentioned Laura Bailey’s previous experiences with backlash after voicing Abby in The Last of Us Part 2, where the character’s controversial release led to a torrent of online hostility directed towards Bailey and her loved ones. “There were death threats and violent messages everywhere,” Bailey recounted in the behind-the-scenes documentary, Grounded 2: Making The Last of Us Part 2, which debuted last February.
Gabrielle noted that she has already begun to receive similar negativity since it was revealed she would lead in Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. She has encountered misogynistic and racist comments amid the responses.
“While I’ve had my fair share of support, there’s also been a significant amount of hate directed at me, for being a woman, a woman of color, and even for my shaved head,” Gabrielle reflected. “To shield myself from this toxicity, I consciously stepped back from social media. But Neil provided reassurance, telling me, ‘Ignore the noise. No matter what happens, we’re going to create something beautiful and meaningful together.’”
Gabrielle also explored the game’s themes surrounding faith. Earlier this year, Druckmann discussed how Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet weaves a fictional religion into its alternate historical narrative.
“Faith isn’t strictly black and white,” Gabrielle remarked. “Many jump to religion when they think of faith; however, it can also signify belief in oneself, trust in your environment, or faith in your community. It challenges us to evaluate our beliefs and aspirations—what inspires us to get out of bed each morning.”
Currently, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is in production for the PlayStation 5. Last year, Druckmann revealed that Naughty Dog is managing several upcoming projects, including various single-player experiences, with this one standing out.
In related news, Naughty Dog and HBO recently premiered the fifth episode of The Last of Us Season Two.
