Pedro Pascal’s portrayal of Joel Miller in HBO’s The Last of Us was widely praised by fans and critics. However, Pascal was not the first actor approached for the role. HBO reportedly first offered the part to another major Hollywood star — Matthew McConaughey.McConaughey revealed during a podcast appearance that HBO approached him about playing Joel in The Last of Us. The actor ultimately turned down the role, despite his previous successful collaboration with the network on True Detective. He also discussed how his 2003 romantic comedy How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days continues to earn him residual income more than two decades after its release.McConaughey was considered for the role of Joel in HBO’s adaptation of the popular PlayStation video game. The role eventually went to Pascal, who starred opposite Bella Ramsey, who played Ellie.McConaughey had already established a strong relationship with HBO through the first season of True Detective. His performance as Rust Cohle earned him an Emmy nomination and became one of the most acclaimed performances of his career.A role in The Last of Us would have brought McConaughey back to HBO for another major television project. However, he decided the part was not right for him.Explaining his decision, McConaughey said: “it wasn’t for me at the […]”Joel is one of the central characters in The Last of Us. The story follows his journey with Ellie through a post-apocalyptic United States, with their relationship forming much of the emotional core of the series.The role ultimately became one of Pascal’s most prominent television performances. His casting also helped establish the dynamic between Joel and Ellie that drives much of the show’s story.Matthew McConaughey still earns from ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’While discussing his career, McConaughey also revealed that one of his most popular romantic comedies continues to generate income.How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, released in 2003, still brings McConaughey money through residual payments.The film stars McConaughey opposite Kate Hudson. It follows a magazine writer who agrees to write an article about how to drive a man away while simultaneously dating an advertising executive who has made a bet that he can make a woman fall in love with him.More than two decades after its release, the film continues to generate residual income for McConaughey. Residuals can provide actors with additional payments when qualifying films and television productions continue to be distributed or exhibited.The revelation offers an interesting contrast in McConaughey’s career. He became widely known for romantic comedies before taking on more dramatic roles, including his acclaimed performance in True Detective.His decision to pass on The Last of Us meant that Pascal ultimately became the actor associated with Joel in the HBO adaptation. At the same time, McConaughey’s comments about How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days show how a successful film can continue generating financial returns for its stars years after its original release.Together, the two stories highlight different sides of McConaughey’s career — from the major HBO role he chose not to take to the romantic comedy that continues to pay him more than 20 years later.