Actor Pedro Pascal called in some backup for his playthrough of The Last of Us.
In an interview with GQ, Pascal admitted that he attempted to connect to his role as Joel Miller by picking up Naughty Dog's beloved post-apocalyptic shooter. The actor tried but he eventually had to pass the controller to someone more experienced. "It's so sad, I haven't any skill," Pascal said. "I tried, you know. And then it was only a matter of minutes before I had to hand it over to my nephew. It really takes a specific kind of skill, and I don't have it."
Though he couldn't experience the entire game, The Last of Us still left a memorable mark on the actor, with Pascal praising Joel's character and the game's aesthetics. "I found Joel so impressive, I found the whole of it such a visually impressive experience," he continued. "And then I got worried that I would want to imitate too much, which I think could be right in some circumstances, and then a mistake in others." The actor resolved to distance himself from the source material, believing that picking what parts of the game will best translate into the show was best left in the hands of the series' writers Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann.
Pascal's research didn't stop with just the first game in the franchise, as he's also aware of his character's role in The Last of Us Part II. While he didn't specify if he also tried to play the sequel, Pascal revealed he knew of Joel's untimely death at the hands of Abby Anderson. He further stated that he "may not even make it to that," though it remains unclear if this means the show is planning on changing certain events.
Pascal also drew comparisons between The Last of Us and The Mandalorian, wherein he plays the titular bounty hunter Din Djarin. He saw similarities in how the writers for both series adored their respective shows, believing that The Last of Us is "in good hands because [Mazin and Druckmann] love it so much." Regarding how the franchise's fans might respond to the adaptation, Pascal said, "It really is made for the people that love it."
The Last of Us is expected to premiere on HBO sometime after 2022.
Source: GQ