Matthew McConaughey Reveals He Almost Played Joel in HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’

Pedro Pascal’s portrayal of Joel Miller has become iconic in HBO’s acclaimed adaptation of the video game, but the role was nearly taken by a different Oscar-winning actor. Before Pascal stepped into the character, ‘The Last of Us’ creator Craig Mazin had considered another prominent leading man known for his success in prestige television.

That leading man was Matthew McConaughey, who gained significant TV acclaim through his Emmy-nominated role in HBO’s original series ‘True Detective.’ In 2023, Mazin confirmed that he had discussions with McConaughey regarding the role, though he noted that those talks never progressed to a serious stage.

Recently, during an appearance on Josh Horowitz’s Happy, Sad, Confused podcast, McConaughey clarified the nature of those discussions. When asked if the talks were serious, McConaughey replied, “I did,” explaining that the timing wasn’t right for him personally, as he wasn’t actively pursuing acting roles at that point in his career.

McConaughey shared that his focus during that period was more on writing and exploring leadership projects rather than taking on new acting roles. He acknowledged that ‘The Last of Us’ seemed like a promising show, expressing excitement about what he had seen, while also reflecting on how unusual it was for film actors like him and Woody Harrelson to commit to television series before ‘True Detective’ changed that perception.

In a more detailed discussion, McConaughey explained his hesitations about taking the role. He pointed out that a television series requires a long-term commitment, as success on a show like ‘The Last of Us’ would mean playing the same character for many years, which didn’t align with his personal goals at the time.

This reasoning aligns with what eventually drew McConaughey back into acting. He mentioned that the project ‘The Rivals of Amziah King,’ set for release in 2025, felt right for him, particularly because it was a standalone film rather than a long-term series commitment.

Mazin has expressed gratitude regarding how things turned out, stating that while McConaughey is an exceptional actor and an alternate version of the show would have been interesting, he is genuinely pleased with the version featuring Pascal, acknowledging that a different lead would have resulted in a different show altogether.

Since taking on the role, Pascal’s performance has made it hard to envision anyone else as Joel, given how thoroughly he has embodied the character across both seasons of the celebrated HBO series. Nonetheless, McConaughey’s revelation provides an intriguing look at an alternate version of the show that could have been.

For McConaughey, this near-miss seems to be without regret, viewing his decision as a matter of timing rather than a lost opportunity he wishes had unfolded differently.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!