(Photos courtesy of Screen Rant and photographer John Balsom)
On March 6th HBO announced that they would be developing a television show based on the hit video game The Last of Us, and ever since fans have been throwing in their suggestions on who should be cast as one of the main characters, Joel Miller. Many fans had actors like Hugh Jackman (Logan) and Nikolaj Coster (Game of Thrones) in mind for the role of Joel, but on February 11th, it was revealed that Pedro Pascal, best known for his role in “The Mandalorian,” landed the role. Many felt like the casting was shocking, and some were even disappointed, but Pascal’s previous roles are proof that while it’s unexpected, he’s perfect for the role of Joel Miller.
When you look at the surface comparisons of both The Last of Us and “The Mandalorian,” it’s easy to see why Pascal was on the casting director’s radar. The two share some obvious similarities. The Last of Us follows Joel, a hardened smuggler trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic United States after the country has been ravished by a virus that turns human hosts into aggressive creatures that are referred to as “The Infected”. Joel is quickly tasked with delivering a teenage girl by the name of Ellie, who has the potential of being the cure to the virus. In the beginning, Joel isn’t exactly thrilled with the task at hand, but Ellie quickly grows on him and they develop a close relationship with Ellie becoming like a daughter to him. This plot is very similar to Pascal’s role in The Mandalorian, where his character Din Djarin also has to deliver Grogu and ends up being attached to the child as well.
The similarities between the two don’t end at the plot either. Both Joel and Din are stoic characters that have traumatic pasts that haunt them. They prefer to stay to themselves, limiting their interactions with others if it doesn’t involve completing their jobs. They’re both guarded loners just trying to make their way through the world. It’s not until their given a job involving the delivery of a unique child that we start to see a shift in the characters and see their characters begin to soften as they take on the role of fathers that are willing to do whatever it takes to keep their surrogate child safe.
Pascal’s role in “The Mandalorian” isn’t the only acting gig he’s had proving that he was a great pick for Joel. With roles like Javier Peña in “Narcos” and Francisco “Catfish” Morales in “Triple Frontier,” a role where he’s had to shoot his way out of a tight situation is nothing new for the actor. Despite the similarities in many of the roles he’s taken, the characters he’s played in the past often have massively different personalities and dispositions, showing his range as an actor. Some fans even questioned if Pascal could pull off Joel’s deep southern accent, but he’s even nailed a role in “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” where he plays a cocky southern cowboy by the name of Agent Whiskey, proving that a southern accent won’t be a problem for him at all.
Even Troy Baker, the voice of Joel Miller in the videogame, was especially pleased and impressed with the casting. On his Youtube channel, he referred to HBO’s choice of Pedro Pascal as a “Perfect, amazing, brilliant choice. All around.” He then went on to say “I can’t wait to see what he does. Instantly, by the sheer notion of who he is and his sensibility brings, inherently, a new sensibility to Joel that excites me. I feel like I’m going to meet Joel for the first time.” He even made the following post on his Instagram in support of Pedro Pascal.
What are your thoughts on Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller in the Last of Us?
Written by Ashley Laney
Lynn Makes
Evan Conroy
Ron Peterson