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McConaughey Turned Down Joel Role for Pedro Pascal

8/14/2026

38 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Matthew McConaughey (actor) said on a podcast he turned down the Joel role in HBO’s The Last of Us.
Craig Mazin (co-creator, showrunner, executive producer) said he floated the Joel role to McConaughey early, called the talks not serious, and confirmed Pedro Pascal (actor) was the top choice and later accepted it.
Season three, slated for a 2027 premiere, will be the series’ final season.

History

Historical Context

After HBO first cast Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister in May 2009, the actor signed on before the meeting ended and helped launch Game of Thrones in 2011. The series ran eight seasons through 2019, earning Dinklage a record four Emmy Awards and a 2011 Golden Globe, establishing HBO’s practice of using marquee talent to drive subscriber growth.

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Story summary

Matthew McConaughey (actor) said on a podcast he turned down the Joel role in HBO’s The Last of Us.
Craig Mazin (co-creator, showrunner, executive producer) said he floated the Joel role to McConaughey early, called the talks not serious, and confirmed Pedro Pascal (actor) was the top choice and later accepted it.
Season three, slated for a 2027 premiere, will be the series’ final season.

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