Before Pedro Pascal (“The Mandalorian”) was cast as Joel on HBO’s “The Last of Us,” there were a few other contenders for the role. Craig Mazin, co-showrunner, recently confirmed one big casting choice that could have been. Though the details aren’t quite as juicy as fans may have originally thought.
Turns out, Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey (“True Detective”) was in the running at some point.
“I did talk to Matthew. I can’t say that it was a series [of conversations]. It was more of a, ‘Hey, here’s something to talk about,'” Mazin told the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast. “Pedro was on our list from the start. We were told he was unavailable, and then as we were floundering about a little bit, I got a call from his agent who said, ‘You know, he actually might be available.'”
Oscar winner Mahershala Ali (“Blade“) was also rumored for the role. The source of THAT story was Jeffrey Pierce, who voiced the role of Joel’s brother Tommy in “The Last of Us” games, as well as playing Perry in the HBO series.
“So… I think initially they had talked to Mahershala Ali about playing Joel, which is an obvious cue that I’m not gonna play Tommy,” Pierce told The Direct. “And when they cast Pedro [Pascal], I knew like, yeah, that was certainly not going to happen regardless, I’m older than Pedro Pascal. So I was not under harboring any illusions about that, for sure.”
Mazin confirmed he did NOT have talks with Ali.
As much fun as theoretical casting choices may be, no one is arguing Pascal isn’t a great fit for Joel. Him playing yet another world-weary reluctant hero who is trying to transport a mysterious child, Ellie (Bella Ramsey), solidifies his monopoly on the genre. Except this time, he is in the United States, and not the outer reaches of the galaxy. Running from zombie-like creatures infected by a fungal pandemic, not the clutches of the New Republic.
Pascal and Ramsey worked on “Game of Thrones” may have aided in their on-screen chemistry. “I feel like it made us come from a family without knowing each other already,” Pascal told EW. “To have two characters that the fans liked make their entrance and make their exit is parallel for the both of us and a kind of bonding thing before we even got a chance to bond. So, yes, I am grateful for that.”
Season 2 of “The Last of Us” will tackle the events of the second video game. Though there is a current halt in its production due to the ongoing WGA strike. Check out Mazin’s entire interview below:
