Joel and Ellie undoubtedly left a lasting mark on fans when "The Last of Us" ended.  Now, fans are creating noise online for a still unconfirmed "The Last of Us 2" release date.

While rumors continue to pour online, Naughty Dog has kept mum about the sequel's release. Speculations have started to spread, with fans offering their theories on the upcoming title's plot, but none have been confirmed nor denied as of writing.

New reports are suggesting that it could only be a matter of time before developers give waiting fans a glimpse of what to expect in the sequel. According to Christian Today, the second installment could soon get the green light as Naughty Dog is wrapping up with "Uncharted 4" work.  The new game featuring the last adventure of Nathan Drake is slated for an Apr. 26 launch.

"'The Last of Us 2' ranks up there as one of the most eagerly anticipated sequels in recent gaming history, and development on the new game may have already begun," the article read. "While the game's developers have yet to even officially announce the sequel, there are some pieces of evidence out there that would seem to hint at the possibility that the game may be further along than what fans might expect."

Meanwhile, Joel and Ellie's return is as uncertain as the game's development.  While majority of players want the duo back, most especially Ellie, it is still not sure whether Naughty Dog will reprise their roles in the sequel or introduce new leads. 

"If the sequel features the same characters and the same setting, most of us, if not all, don't want Joel to return," Movie Pilot noted.

"Remember when we got to play as Ellie in The Last of Us, that part was probably one of the best parts of the game. We got to understand Ellie better, and could feel that she has been through a lot in the game. A game fully fledged based Ellie would be great idea. Imagine an emotional scene where Joel dies in Ellie's arms, trying to save her from the Infected, maybe trying to kill a stage 5 Infected which got removed from the first game. After that, Ellie is all on her own, fighting for her survival."

Stay tuned for more "The Last of Us 2" confirmed release date updates here!