Matthew McConaughey explains why he turned down the role of Joel in The Last of Us

Matthew McConaughey offered insights into his decision to decline the role of Joel in HBO's The Last of Us, which ultimately went to Pedro Pascal. In 2023, showrunner Craig Mazin had spoken with McConaughey about the opportunity, though it never progressed beyond casual conversation. Despite acknowledging McConaughey's exceptional acting skills, McConaughey himself expressed that the timing simply wasn't suitable.

During that period, he was primarily focusing on writing and other endeavors, and he generally approached television projects with caution, except for a rare exception like True Detective. McConaughey reflected on the success of True Detective, crediting it for breaking the mold of how actors typically approached television roles.

He emphasized that The Last of Us was impressive, but it wasn't the right fit for him at the time. McConaughey also acknowledged the significant commitment required for a television series, noting that he hadn't given much thought to such a long-term undertaking. As The Last of Us season three delves deeper into Abby's storyline in Seattle, the show introduces new characters such as Peter Sarsgaard as Amon and Michelle Mao and Kyriana Kratter as Yara and Lev, respectively, from the game's Seraphites faction.