The Last of Us star Pedro Pascal claimed his role as the series' jaded protagonist, Joel Miller, gave him the chance to explore his own "darkness."
According to WIRED, when asked if Pascal carried any of his personal experiences while portraying Joel, the actor believed The Last of Us provided him with an outlet for his darkest thoughts. "That's the fun part -- how much you get to externalize internal darkness in a safe way and bring in things that are from your nightmares," Pascal said. He further elaborated, "[Such as] Joel's capacity for violence and being good at it. I didn't get into any physical fights growing up and definitely not as an adult. Violence scares me tremendously."
While he admitted that he was a thrill-seeker, Pascal additionally revealed he was not in the habit of pushing himself to his limits. "I'm actually a little bit opposed to it. I don't like pain," the actor explained. "Pain of every kind. I don't like psychological, emotional or physical pain. Some people will be like, 'Oh, I know that it's very likely I'll break something, I've got to try that.' F---. That. I don't think of myself as -- I'm not a tough guy. I don't live that way. I'm a lubricant. I want people to feel comfortable. I don't know how to function at the expense of anyone's comfort level. I'm a people pleaser."
The Last of Us' Big Premiere
Based on studio developer Naughty Dog's beloved video game of the same name, The Last of Us centers on an old smuggler, Joel, who is hired to smuggle a 14-year-old girl named Ellie across the ruins of a post-apocalyptic United States. The series premiered on Jan. 15 and swiftly became one of the most successful debuts in HBO's recent history, with The Last of Us raking in a total of 4.7 million viewers over cable network and HBO Max.
In response to the positive reception from viewers and critics alike, showrunner Craig Marzin posted a personal message on social media, with Marzin thanking the fans for their part in turning The Last of Us' premiere into such a success. The showrunner conveyed his excitement regarding the show's positive reception and promised that the series will only improve as it unraveled. He expressed appreciation for the fans and concluded his message with a wish that they will continue to support the series throughout its entire run.
The Last of Us is available to stream on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering every Sunday.
Source: WIRED