Matthew McConaughey has said he declined the chance to play Joel in HBO’s *The Last of Us*, despite considering the project “really good”. He said he was not actively pursuing acting roles at the time and was instead focused on writing and leadership work, while also weighing the long-term commitment required for a successful television series.

Creator Craig Mazin previously confirmed that he had discussed the role with McConaughey, though he did not describe the talks as serious. Pedro Pascal ultimately played Joel, a smuggler escorting Bella Ramsey’s character across a virus-ravaged United States, earning an Emmy nomination for lead actor; McConaughey is now promoting *The Rivals of Amziah King*, his first live-action role since 2019.