When asked whether he'll be playing Joel Miller in The Last of Us TV show, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau dances around the issue by saying he loves the games. Coster-Waldau is a veteran Danish actor who became a global star after being cast as Jamie Lannister on HBO's Game of Thrones. Lannister was one of the most popular characters on the show through all eight seasons, bringing depth, humor, and warmth to a character that might have merely been a generic villain in someone else's hands.
Coster-Waldau has also appeared in a number of Hollywood films, making his U.S. debut in Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down. His later starring efforts, which include the 2019 direct-to-video action movie Domino and the box office flop Gods of Egypt, haven't been as well received. The actor has fared better on TV and theater and is rumored to return to HBO for a role in the upcoming TV adaptation of the hit video game series The Last of Us. There's speculation he could portray Joel Miller due to his resemblance to the game character.
Now, in a Reddit AMA, Coster-Waldau has further fueled the speculation by not saying if he's starring as Miller. Asked if he'll be taking on the role as rumored, the actor skirted the issue entirely, only saying, "I just got part 2.. What a great game." As fans pointed out in the replies, that's not a no. The implication is that not only is Coster-Waldau a fan of The Last of Us games, but he isn't contractually able to deny or confirm whether he'll appear, as he may be in talks, or already signed on, for a role on the show. However, this is far from a sure thing at this point and is still only speculation.
The casting would certainly make fans of the games happy, who have often said Coster-Waldau would suit the role, even if Troy Baker, who voices Joel in the games, would prefer Josh Brolin to play the part. That seems unlikely, however, given the actor is more of a movie star. Coster-Waldau, on the other hand, has proven he's up for appearing in a long-running TV show, given his eight-year run on Game of Thrones. This may provide fans with even more hope he could be cast in the role.
Coster-Waldau would not only be a popular choice, but is the right kind of actor for the role. He's able to switch from gruff and serious to tender and charming and would definitely lend some dramatic gravity to the part of Joel Miller. Additionally, as many have noted, he really does have the right rugged look for the character. Hopefully, Coster-Waldau's response during the AMA is a sign he's in contention for a role in The Last of Us and not merely a coincidence.
Source: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau/Reddit