Matthew McConaughey has revealed that he turned down the role of Joel in HBO's The Last of Us TV show.
"I wasn’t really acting at that point," McConaughey told Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. "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 role ultimately went to Pedro Pascal, and effectively cemented his status as a household name. The TV series is based on the massively popular video game of the same name, which is set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by disease and follows an immune girl named Ellie who develops an unlikely father-daughter-esque bond with a morally gray man named Joel. Ellie is portrayed first as a 13-year-old in season 1, as the first season adapts the first game, and is 19 in season 2, which adapts the sequel.
The show, which premiered in 2023, has been nominated for countless Emmy and Golden Globe Awards, though it may be set to end after its third season (despite previous announcements of a fourth).
McConaughey was no doubt asked to play Joel after his award-winning performance in True Detective (and because Joel also has a southern accent), and while the casting would've made sense, it would've been a completely different show (and I would just spend every episode waiting for Harrelson to show up.)
The Last of Us season 3 is expected to premiere on HBO in 2027. For more, check out our guide to the best shows on HBO Max, and keep up with new TV shows on the way.
