The Last of Us’ behind-the-scenes singing ending is still better than the presented original version. The Naughty Dog title’s official last moments are considered some of the best in the medium's history. Overrode by rising tension and emotions becoming more clear, Joel invades the Fireflies’ operating room to save Ellie, taking the surgeon’s life and then leaving with her in his arms.
The controversial decision of choosing to save his surrogate daughter's life over the prospect of a cure for humanity’s mind-altering fungal infestation is a remarkable one. This is especially true considering that one of the most emotional moments in The Last of Us happens so close to the end of the game. However, filming the motion capture for Joel's final confrontation with Marlene wasn't exactly straightforward, and the original shooting sessions saw different approaches to the scene, one of which could’ve given players a singing ending in The Last of Us.
The Last Of Us' Alternate Ending Has Marlene Confront Joel In The Operating Room
In one of the alternate endings recorded for The Last of Us, Joel would walk into the operating room and take one of the three doctors hostage, while telling the other ones to step away from Ellie, who is lying on the table. At this moment, The Last of Us’ Marlene would walk in and try to talk Joel into letting the Fireflies perform the surgery. After the well-known dialogue, Joel would shoot her and the three doctors and take Ellie away from the base, thus ending the story after their short interaction while hiking toward Jackson.
The Last Of Us' Ending Has A Musical Version
What is surprising, however, is that one of the recorded sessions actually saw a singing ending for The Last of Us. As revealed by director Neil Druckmann in a PlayStation advertising video, shown at the game’s at PAX Prime 2013, he was satisfied with the sessions but decided to pull a prank on Joel’s actor in The Last of Us, Troy Baker. As such, he called Marlene’s actress, Merle Dandridge, aside and asked her to start her performance by singing. Alternatively, he told Baker to keep going with the scene, regardless of what happened, without telling him about the singing. Luckily this was recorded and can be seen in the video below:
The Last of Us’ singing ending was never seriously considered to be an official conclusion to the game. It is, however, a pleasant BTS recording that shows more of Dandridge and Baker’s good spirits during the game’s production. It also showcases their abilities as actors, capable of adapting and improvising on the spot, without breaking character. Marlene’s demise is the last important death in The Last of Us and is one that leaves a mark. It is necessary for the conclusion of Joel and Ellie’s story in Part 1, but at least the singing alternate ending helps cope with it.
Source: PlayStation/YouTube
