What do Shakespeare and The Last of Us movie have in common?

With a film version of The Last of Us on the horizon, the voices behind game protagonists Joel and Ellie have weighed in what they both hope to see in the characters' transition from console to silver screen.

Speaking with IGN, voice actors Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker describe how different interpretations and visions of a narrative — and by extension different actors — are part of the evolution of any popular story. Johnson responded to a question of what she wants to see from the new Ellie actor by saying:

"Selfishly, the only requirement I would want is just that they love it as much as I do, which clearly is not going to happen. But to at least have played the game so they know what it was, but who knows if that's going to happen. I know somebody could do an amazing job with it and I think they will."

Similarly, Baker drew comparisons to the production culture of stage plays, using the proliferation of William Shakespeare plays as an example of how actors and directors interpret stories differently.

Joel actor Troy Baker, meanwhile, reiterated his previous request to be cast as a clicker in the movie, saying: "I want to be a clicker so bad. The beauty of what we do, with the game specifically, is that the face isn't what you see, you see Joel. I like some of that anonymity. For this specifically, what we have done with the characters lives within the game and is perfect for it. It's just as if someone goes out and does a different version of a play, I mean Billy Shakespeare is rolling over in his grave with how many people have done Macbeth, Hamlet and Richard III. It's the same play, but different actors have acted it, different directors have interpreted it with different sets and props, and even visions of what it is.

"For it to exist in a different form is fantastic and I'm excited to see a different actor's interpretation of these characters, as long as they get it. I just want them to get it. But I hope they reveal something new about the character that I didn't think of before as long as it's true to the story and true to Joel. But yeah, I want to be a clicker. Head. Blown. OFF."

Earlier this month it was revealed Maisie Williams, known for her role as Arya Stark, the best character in Game of Thrones, was in talks to play Ellie in The Last of Us film.

The film, announced in March, is still early in development, and the actress is yet to sign on to the role. Sam Raimi, the director of the original Evil Dead and Spider-Man trilogies, is set to produce. Naughty Dog's creative director and writer Neil Druckmann will pen the script. The script will have some changes from the game's story. Initially Druckmann wanted the film to have a different ending, but Raimi convinced the writer otherwise.

According to Druckmann, Naughty Dog has final approval on both the casting and directing of the film.

The news comes shortly after the announcement of a release date for the Uncharted film, another adaptation of a Naughty Dog game.

Check out our review of The Last of Us: Remastered on PS4 right here.