The Last of Us voice actor Troy Baker has expressed his full support for Pedro Pascal taking on Joel's role in the upcoming HBO adaptation of the popular video game. Baker is most well known for his performance as Joel in The Last of Us game but has also appeared in various other video games. The zombie survival game franchise has already found massive success, with The Last of Us 2 becoming the most awarded video game in history.
Earlier this year, it was announced that Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin would be teaming up with The Last of Us creator Neil Druckmann to develop a new HBO television series based on the game. With such iconic performances in the original game series, casting would become one of the primary concerns for this show, especially for the fan-favorite character Joel. This week, it was revealed that actor Pedro Pascal of The Mandalorian fame would be playing Joel in this series.
Joel’s original actor Troy Baker shared his excitement for this casting decision on his Instagram, stating that Pascal would be great for the role. “This IS the way,” Baker said, referring to Pascal’s catchphrase from The Mandalorian. Baker has given his full support for Pascal in this series, and like many fans, is looking forward to seeing what the actor will do in the show.
It’s undeniable that Pedro Pascal is having a moment right now. Beyond his performance on The Mandalorian, one of the most popular shows on television right now, the actor has recently appeared in the DC movie Wonder Woman 1984, and the Netflix children's movie We Can Be Heroes. He’s also received praise from fans for his vocal support for transgender rights. It makes sense why Baker and many The Last of Us fans would be excited for Pascal to appear in this adaptation.
Pascal’s popularity makes him a solid choice for HBO’s The Last of Us, but this isn’t the only reason why the actor is a good fit for Joel. Pedro Pascal has played several fathers and father figures in the past year, turning it into his acting niche. In The Last of Us, Joel is also a father figure, right up Pascal’s alley. If Troy Baker’s reaction is any indication, Pedro Pascal will be bringing the exact dad energy that The Last of Us on HBO will need.
Source: Troy Baker on Instagram