Pedro Pascal is now closely associated with Joel, the hardened survivor at the centre of HBO’s The Last of Us. Before Pascal was cast, however, Matthew McConaughey was considered for the role. In 2023, showrunner Craig Mazin confirmed that he had conversations with Interstellar actor Matthew McConaughey about playing the iconic video-game character.
McConaughey has now explained why he did not pursue the part. His decision was influenced by where he was in his career, as well as the long-term commitment involved in joining a successful television series.
Why the role did not suit McConaughey at the time
Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, McConaughey said he was not doing much acting when the adaptation was beginning in the early 2020s. He was spending more time writing and considering leadership roles in his life instead.
He also pointed to his general reluctance to commit to television. His main exception had been the first season of True Detective, a series he made with Woody Harrelson that succeeded at a time when film actors were less likely to move into television.
McConaughey acknowledged that The Last of Us was an impressive show, but said it was not right for him at that point. A film such as Rivals of Amziah King felt more appealing because it was a single, highly specific project rather than a series that could continue for years if it became successful.
A very different Joel story
Had McConaughey accepted the role, he would have discovered that Joel’s future in the show was considerably shorter than a conventional multi-season commitment. Pascal and viewers learned early in season two that the character’s story would not continue in the same way.
That outcome does not change McConaughey’s reasoning. An established actor can be selective about whether a project’s success might require years of ongoing work, particularly when the role is central to a major television adaptation.
What comes next for The Last of Us
The third season is in production and is expected to focus primarily on Kaitlyn Dever’s Abby. The series continues to draw on the story and characters of the acclaimed PlayStation games, making it a notable example of gaming culture moving into mainstream television.
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