Last of Us returns in October
- Hot Toys’ officially licensed Joel Miller figure from HBO’s The Last of Us is up for preorder now, with shipping set for October 2026. (screenrant.com) - The 1/6-scale collectible stands about 30 centimeters tall, costs roughly $275, and packs Pedro Pascal likeness, rolling eyes, weapons, backpack, and Sarah’s watch. (screenrant.com) - That matters because this is merch, not a new game or season announcement — with Season 3 still framed for 2027. (screenrant.com)
The October “return” here is not The Last of Us Part 3. It is not HBO season 3 either. It’s a high-end Joel Miller collectible — officially licensed, based on Pedro Pascal’s TV version of the character, and now slated to ship in October 2026. (screenrant.com) ### So what actually got announced? A new 1/6-scale Joel Miller figure from Hot Toys’ TV Masterpiece line is up for preorder now. The figure is tied to HBO’s The Last of Us rather than the original game design, which is why the big selling point is the Pedro Pascal likeness. (screenrant.com) ### Why are people reading this like bigger news? Because “The Last of Us returns in October” sounds like a game launch or a TV date if you only see the headline. But turns out the actual product is premium merch — the kind of collectible that lives in the same hype ecosystem as new seasons and new games, even when it is neither. (screenrant.com) ### What is the figure, exactly? It’s a roughly 30 cm — about 12 inch — articulated Joel figure with fabric clothing and a bunch of accessories. The listed gear includes a combat knife, revolver, assault rifle, backpack, flashlight, and Sarah’s wristwatch, plus interchangeable hands for different poses. (screenrant.com) ### What’s the key collector detail? The face sculpt. Retail listings stress a newly developed head sculpt with separate rolling eyeballs, which is Hot Toys’ way of saying this is aimed at serious collectors, not casual toy buyers. Basically, it’s built to look like a shelf-grade mini Pedro Pascal, not a mass-market action figure. (screenrant.com) ### How much does it cost? ScreenRant pegs it at roughly $275, while Japanese retailer listings show pricing around ¥43,200 to ¥44,160 before region-specific adjustments. Either way, this lands squarely in premium collectible territory — expensive enough that the audience is hardcore fans, not impulse buyers. (screenrant.com) ### Why Joel, and why now? Joel is still the franchise’s emotional anchor, even after the story moved into messier territory. A big-screen-quality figure of the HBO version makes sense because Pedro Pascal’s performance pulled in viewers well beyond the game audience, and collectible companies usually chase that broader crossover heat. (hobby-genki.com) That last part is an inference, but it fits the timing and the product choice. ### Does this tell us anything about Part 3? Not really. Nothing in this release points to a new game announcement, and nothing here changes the wait around Naughty Dog’s future plans. The broader franchise is still active — PlayStation pushed The Last of Us Complete on PS5 in April 2025, and HBO’s season 3 has been discussed for 2027 — but this October item is merch, full stop. (screenrant.com) ### Does it tell us anything about season 3? Only indirectly. The figure proves the HBO version of The Last of Us is still valuable enough to support premium licensing, but that’s not the same as a release-date signal. (screenrant.com) If you were hoping October 2026 meant new episodes, this announcement does not get you there. ### Bottom line? The franchise “returns” in October 2026 as a Joel Miller Hot Toys figure — a pricey, very detailed collector piece. If you wanted new story, this isn’t that. If you wanted an immaculate tiny Joel with Sarah’s watch, turns out that’s exactly what got announced. (screenrant.com) (blog.playstation.com)
