Matthew McConaughey has revealed that he was approached to play Joel Miller in HBO’s The Last of Us, but ultimately turned down the role that went on to become one of Pedro Pascal’s most acclaimed performances.
Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, McConaughey confirmed that he seriously considered starring in the video game adaptation. However, the actor explained that the timing was not right for him, as he was taking a step back from acting and focusing on writing and leadership projects.
“I wasn’t really acting,” McConaughey explained, adding that although he found the script “really good” and was excited by the project, ultimately “it just wasn’t for me, at the time.”
The revelation comes three years after The Last of Us co-creator Craig Mazin first confirmed that he had spoken with McConaughey about the role. At the time, Mazin described their conversation as more of an initial discussion rather than a serious series of negotiations.
Matthew McConaughey was not the only major name considered for Joel. According to Mazin, Pedro Pascal had been on the creative team’s list from the beginning, although he was initially believed to be unavailable. After receiving the script, Pascal quickly expressed his interest and ultimately secured the role.
Looking back, Mazin said in 2023 that while McConaughey would have brought something different to the character, he was happy with the version of The Last of Us that audiences ultimately received.
It is now difficult to imagine anyone else as Joel, with Pascal’s performance earning him two Emmy nominations and becoming central to the series’ success.
McConaughey’s revelation offers a fascinating glimpse into the alternate versions of The Last of Us that could have existed, and just how different the series might have felt with another actor at its centre.
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