Matthew McConaughey Reveals He Nearly Played Joel in HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’: “It Wasn’t for Me”
Matthew McConaughey has confirmed that he nearly took on the character of Joel in HBO’s hit series, ‘The Last of Us’.
Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us remains one of the best horror video game titles I’ve ever played. It’s a post-apocalyptic tale that’s ruthless in execution, depicting an unforgiving world where terrifying fungal zombies have destroyed everything humanity once knew. It had me sobbing in the first ten minutes, and the ending left my jaw on the floor. It’s that good.
A few years ago, HBO delivered an excellent series adaptation starring Pedro Pascal as the main character, Joel. Pascal nailed the role, offering up what I consider to be one of his more memorable performances. Turns out, that role came close to going to another familiar face…none other than Matthew McConaughey (pictured above in Frailty).
Variety reports that the actor recently appeared on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, where he revealed that he turned down the opportunity. “I wasn’t really acting at that point. That was when I was doing more writing and looking at leadership roles in life. It was really good. I was excited. Correct me if I’m wrong, I’m not a huge TV watcher, we pulled off a real coup with True Detective at a time when series were not something that actors like myself or Woody Harrelson would hop over and go do. That one succeeded in a real royal fashion. Last of Us was really good, but it wasn’t for me at the time.”
The outlet notes, however, that creator Craig Mazin had previously confirmed on the same podcast that McConaughey was considered, though not that seriously.
Said Mazin, “It was more of just like, ‘Hey, here’s something we can talk about’… It’s one of those things where I’m sure there’s an alternate universe where it’s a different guy. Look, Matthew McConaughey is an amazing actor. I’m sure it would’ve been great, but it would’ve been different, and I like the one that we made.”
I have to agree with Mazin there. McConaughey is a gifted actor. There’s no doubt about that. And I’m sure he would’ve done well in the shoes of Joel. But, after seeing Pascal in the role, it’s hard to imagine anyone else playing the character. He brought exactly the right amount of world-weary ruggedness that the role needed.