8 Dream TV Castings That Came True

HBO’s belief in adapting video game mega-hit The Last of Us for TV speaks volumes in its monumental budget, spent on impressive sets and brilliant casting.

Nick Offerman wasn’t necessarily on everybody’s lists when the show was first confirmed, but as soon as the announcement came, there was a collective rumble of excitement. Offerman became a beloved figure working on Parks & Recreation as the very GIF-able Ron Swanson, a gruff man with deadpan delivery, suspicions of the government, and (secretly) a heart of gold. He was the perfect choice to play Bill: the sardonic, pessimist survivalist

What makes this such a remarkable case is that it almost didn’t happen. In July 2021, HBO announced some of the supporting roles for the show, including Chernobyl’s Con O’Neill as Bill. This was walked back before the end of the year due to scheduling conflicts, and Offerman stepped up.

And it’s fair to say he knocked it right out of the park.

While some fans saw the Bill-centric episode of the show as a sudden diversion, no one can truly deny Offerman’s dramatic chops. He demonstrated the character we knew from the game with way more depth, as he explored a beautiful and tragic love story in a post-apocalyptic world.

Offerman trended on Twitter for days after the episode aired, with many calling for him to get his flowers once awards season rolls around.