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Pedro Pascal has finally broken his silence about the backlash he’s faced since being cast as Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic, in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Best known for his work in The Mandalorian and The Last of Us, Pascal’s casting sparked a lot of chatter online—some fans were thrilled, but others weren’t so convinced. The biggest complaints? That he’s too old for the role, doesn’t look the part, and should probably shave.
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Pascal didn’t shy away from addressing the negativity. He admitted that this is the most pushback he’s ever gotten for a role. He said he’s heard it all: too old, wrong choice, needs a new look. But instead of getting defensive, he stayed honest and open about how it feels to be under that kind of scrutiny. Even though he hasn’t seen the final cut of the movie yet, he said he’s starting to feel excited about what they’ve created. He talked about how everyone involved poured their hearts into it and how, in the end, you never know if people are going to accept that or just reject it.
The reaction online has been a real mix. Some people are backing Pascal fully, happy to see him in such a major Marvel role. But others are still questioning whether he’s the right fit for Reed Richards, who’s known as one of the smartest and most iconic characters in the Marvel universe. The biggest criticisms seem to revolve around his age and appearance—not the performance itself, since nobody’s seen the full movie yet. It’s a situation that’s familiar in superhero movie casting, and Pascal isn’t the first actor to face this kind of skepticism.
Pascal also shared that making the jump into the Marvel Cinematic Universe hasn’t been easy. But he’s had help from someone who knows exactly what that’s like—Robert Downey Jr. He said Downey was incredibly supportive and gave him the space to be vulnerable and unsure, which helped a lot in adjusting to such a massive franchise.
Pascal talked a bit about how he’s approaching the character, too. In a past interview, he explained that while Reed Richards has the power to stretch his body, what really defines him is his mind. He even used the idea of an octopus—not literally, but in terms of brilliance and adaptability—as a way to shape how he plays the role. It’s a thoughtful, almost abstract way of getting into character that shows he’s putting a lot of care into it.
Casting backlash isn’t new in the superhero world. It happens almost every time a beloved character is recast. Think about when Robert Pattinson was picked to play Batman or even when Ben Affleck took on the role. Both actors were heavily criticized at first, but eventually won over audiences once the films came out. Marvel is no stranger to this kind of fan response either. It tends to come with the territory, especially when the character is someone fans feel deeply attached to.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is a big deal because it’s the first time this superhero team is appearing in the official Marvel Cinematic Universe after Disney bought 20th Century Fox. The film is directed by Matt Shakman and produced by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. Alongside Pascal, the movie stars Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm. Ralph Ineson will play the cosmic villain Galactus, while Julia Garner takes on the role of the Silver Surfer.
The movie is set to hit theaters on July 25. And fans won’t have to wait too long to see more of Pascal’s Reed Richards, since the Fantastic Four will return in Avengers: Doomsday. Despite the rocky start with fans, Pascal seems locked in and ready to give the role everything he’s got. His response shows that he understands the pressure, but he’s focused on delivering a version of Reed Richards that feels honest and true to the character in his own way.