Pedro Pascal Reacts to Casting Backlash: “Most Disgruntlement I’ve Ever Faced” as Reed Richards

Pedro Pascal has acknowledged being aware of some criticisms regarding his role as Reed Richards in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, The Fantastic Four: First Steps. He mentioned that Robert Downey Jr., known for his roles as Iron Man and Doctor Doom, has been a source of support amidst the feedback.

At 50, Pedro Pascal is preparing for his Marvel debut in The Fantastic Four this July. Both Marvel Studios and its parent company, Disney, are anticipating its success, especially given the underperformance of this year’s other MCU releases like Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*. Consequently, there’s a lot riding on what is anticipated to be one of the major blockbusters of 2025.

In a detailed profile by Vanity Fair, Pascal expressed that the backlash over his casting as Mister Fantastic is more pronounced than any other role he has previously undertaken, including his roles as Joel in HBO’s The Last of Us, Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones, and the lead in The Mandalorian on Star Wars.

“There’s a bit of excitement brewing, which seems to align with our shared vision and what we hope to present, which is essentially pouring our hearts into this genre,” he commented. “It’s unpredictable how audiences will react to your heartfelt efforts.”

“The criticism regarding my casting is unlike anything I’ve experienced before,” Pascal continued. “Comments range from ‘He’s too old’ to ‘He’s not suitable’ to ‘He needs to shave.’”

Since his announcement as Reed Richards, there’s been ongoing debate about whether Pascal fits the visual expectations for the character. While some have objected to his moustached portrayal of Reed Richards, others defend that we’ve only seen a fraction of Pascal’s performance and that there’s much more to acting than mere looks.

Nevertheless, Pascal disclosed that Robert Downey Jr. has been a supportive colleague. Downey Jr., who will act alongside Pascal in the 2026 Avengers: Doomsday, has been particularly encouraging, though Pascal remains tight-lipped about the details of the highly secretive project.

“Robert is incredibly generous and welcoming, making you feel comfortable to express fear, hunger, or indifference,” said Pascal about RDJ.

Confidence from Marvel Studios in this iteration of The Fantastic Four seems strong. Just last week, there were reports that Marvel is already in the planning stages for a sequel, even though the first film is still over a month away from its premiere.