Pedro Pascal started 2023 with a bang. The actor got roses for his performance in the first episode of HBO’s The Last of Us. The show, an adaptation of the critically acclaimed 2013 game, released its first episode last Sunday. To no one’s surprise, the episode got a positive reception from everyone. Critics, fans, and everyone in between already consider the show to be the “greatest video game adaptation of all time”. It is a low bar, but crossing it has made the show reach new heights.
It has enhanced Pascal’s reputation as a franchise actor as well. Fans still recall Oberyn Martell and how memorable he was in the fourth season of Game of Thrones. His role as Din Djarin/The Mandalorian has also received praise from die-hard Star Wars followers. Now, as Joel Miller, he has sealed his reputation as a reliable franchise actor. He has earned a pretty penny for the role as well.
Pedro Pascal earns $600k per episode for the show
A detailed look into the pay that actors receive for parts in streaming service projects was published recently by Variety. The piece describes the temptation that streaming providers face behind the scenes to employ well-known actors in their projects in order to keep up the enormous popularity of series like HBO’s Mare of Easttown starring Kate Winslet.
Casting well-known actors, therefore, necessitates giving them substantial salaries, and Pascal’s pay for The Last of Us is among the performers on streaming services that earn very high salaries.
Pascal is reportedly earning a staggering $600K for every episode of The Last of Us, according to Variety. With ten episodes in the first season, Pascal has earned $6 million for his contributions to the show so far.
How does his salary compare to others on TV
His salary is comparable to that of Martin Short and Steve Martin from Only Murders in the Building, as well as the three stars of Showtime’s The First Lady, Viola Davis, Gillian Anderson, and Michelle Pfeiffer.
Winslet earned a bit more as he bagged $650K for each episode for Mare of Easttown, which is comparable to what Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon made for HBO’s And Just Like That...
On the higher end, Chris Pratt earned $1.4 million each hour of Amazon Prime’s The Terminal List, while Jeff Bridges earned $1 million every episode of FX’s The Old Man.
Pedro Pascal in The Last of Us has wowed both critics and fans
The Last of Us has become a runaway hit with its heart-wrenching story in a post-apocalyptic setting. The 2013 game stole hearts with its gameplay, stunning graphics, and something rarely seen in video games: a great story. And the TV show has lived up to its expectations.
Suggested: HBO Forbade Pedro Pascal from Playing The Last of Us: “‘Don’t play the game’…. I ignored it”
Both Craig Mazin, who earlier made Chornobyl, and game creator Neil Druckmann has ensured that no fan will be disappointed with the TV adaptation. Casting Pedro Pascal as Joel was surely the right step in that direction.
The upcoming episode of The Last of Us will release on 22nd January 2023 and will be available to stream on HBO Max.
Source: Looper
