(Image source: Pinterest, HBO)
HBO's critically acclaimed series "The Last of Us," an adaptation of the popular video game, ultimately cast Pedro Pascal as the iconic character Joel Miller, a role that has garnered significant praise from audiences. However, co-showrunner Craig Mazin previously revealed that before Pascal joined the project, Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey was also approached for the part, though he ultimately declined the offer.
During a recent appearance on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast, McConaughey was asked about the offer and explained his decision to pass on the role. He stated that at the time he received the offer, he wasn't planning on acting, instead focusing on writing and taking on leadership roles in other areas. He noted that the script was fantastic and exciting, adding that if he was mistaken, he could be corrected, as he doesn't watch much television. McConaughey recalled how he and Woody Harrelson had previously "flipped the script" on television with the first season of "True Detective," when TV wasn't typically where actors like them would work, and that show truly started a major trend. He reiterated that while "The Last of Us" script was excellent, it wasn't the right fit for him at that particular moment, and he wasn't sure what impact taking the role would have had on him.
(Image source: HBO)
McConaughey further elaborated, saying that he considered that as a series, the creators would undoubtedly hope for its success, which would mean a multi-year commitment for the actors. He expressed uncertainty about whether that kind of long-term success was what he was looking to achieve at the time.
Shifting to "True Detective," McConaughey also confirmed that he has been discussing with Season 1 showrunner Nic Pizzolatto the possibility of continuing the story of their characters, though nothing is officially confirmed for production yet. McConaughey emphasized that he wouldn't want a follow-up story to be too similar to the first season; it would need to be sufficiently distinct and self-contained for him to consider returning.