Actress Ashley Johnson, known for her role as Ellie in the popular Naughty Dog video game series, The Last of Us, recently expressed her desire to see one of the series’ most terrifying elements make its way into the games. During a podcast about The Last of Us series, Johnson requested that the games include the cordyceps network – the connection between the fungus and the infected that can reveal the position of a person if they step on the cordyceps.
Johnson was drawn to the idea after seeing it depicted in the series, where stepping on the cordyceps can attract hundreds of infected, making for a frightening experience. In the games, the fungus has been more of an aesthetic element, giving the settings a more terrifying appearance.
The cordyceps network is explained in the first episodes of Season 1 of the series, where the fungus sends signals to the infected, revealing the position of the person who stepped on it. This is why it is vital for the protagonists not to step on any of those mushrooms.
Johnson is not alone in her return to The Last of Us universe. Troy Baker, who played Joel in the games, also appears in the series as James, one of David’s followers.
The 9-episode first season of The Last of Us series is available on HBO Max. Fans who want more can check out the latest fan theory confirmed in the series and the big questions the finale left us with.
While there has been no word from Naughty Dog on whether the cordyceps network will be included in future Last of Us games, Johnson’s request may have sparked a new idea for the franchise.