McConaughey's Missed Opportunity
Pedro Pascal's Acclaimed Joel Role in 'The Last of Us' Followed Matthew McConaughey's Near-Miss
Key Points
Mazin said on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that talks with McConaughey about playing Joel were exploratory and not a firm deal, describing it as 'Hey, here’s something we can talk about' and noting there could be 'an alternate universe' where a different actor takes the role.
McConaughey explained he seriously considered the role but, at the time, wasn't acting much and was focused on writing and leadership roles; he said, 'The Last of Us was really good. It wasn’t for me at the time.'
Pascal's Joel dies in Season 2; he returned briefly for the second season before being killed off, marking a major shift from the Season 1 arc.
McConaughey has since returned to film work, including promoting The Rivals of Amziah King; Variety notes this is his first live-action role since 2019 and that he’s on a press tour.
Pedro Pascal landed one of TV's most celebrated roles — but Matthew McConaughey nearly beat him to it. McConaughey confirmed on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that he was approached to play Joel Miller in HBO's The Last of Us before Pascal was cast, according to People and Yahoo News.
Pascal went on to earn two Emmy nominations for the role. The show premiered in 2023, became a massive hit, and is now set for a Season 2 in 2025 and Season 3 in 2027. Meanwhile, McConaughey is left reflecting on what could have been.
McConaughey Passed on Joel for Personal Reasons
McConaughey said the timing simply wasn't right. He told the podcast he wasn't acting much at the time and was focused on writing and leadership roles instead. 'The Last of Us was really good,' he said. 'It wasn't for me at the time,' according to IBTimes.
A key concern was the long commitment a TV series demands. The Last of Us is built to run for years. McConaughey didn't want to lock himself into that kind of schedule when his focus was elsewhere.
Talks Were Casual, Not a Firm Offer, Mazin Says
Series co-creator Craig Mazin pushed back on the idea that McConaughey was ever truly close to signing on. Mazin described the talks as exploratory. He said it was more like 'Hey, here's something we can talk about,' according to Yahoo News.
Mazin acknowledged there could be 'an alternate universe' where a different actor plays Joel. But he was clear — no firm deal was ever on the table. It was early conversation, not a near-done deal.
Other Big Names Were Also Rumored for the Role
McConaughey wasn't the only major name linked to Joel Miller. Mahershala Ali and Josh Brolin were also rumored as candidates for the role, according to IBTimes. The character is a gruff, world-weary survivor — a demanding part that attracted serious Hollywood talent.
Ultimately, Pedro Pascal got the job. His performance earned two Emmy nominations and made Joel one of the most talked-about TV characters in recent memory. The casting now looks like one of the best decisions the show made.
Pascal's Joel Dies in Season 2 as McConaughey Returns to Film
Pascal's run as Joel is already winding down. Joel dies in Season 2, marking a major shift from the show's first arc. Pascal returned briefly before the character's death, mirroring a key moment from the original video game, according to Yahoo News.
McConaughey, meanwhile, has moved back into film work. He is currently promoting The Rivals of Amziah King — his first live-action role since 2019, according to People. He spoke about the Last of Us near-miss while on that press tour, giving fans a rare look at the road not taken.
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