Pedro Pascal Acknowledges Fan Displeasure Over Reed Richards Casting

Pedro Pascal has acknowledged his awareness of certain criticisms regarding his casting as Reed Richards in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps. He also shared that Iron Man and Doctor Doom actor Robert Downey Jr. offered him reassurance about the role.

At 50 years old, Pedro Pascal is preparing for his MCU debut this July as one of the leads in The Fantastic Four. Marvel Studios and its parent company Disney are hoping the film achieves the level of success that this year’s other MCU releases—Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*—did not. As a result, expectations are high for what is anticipated to be one of the biggest blockbusters of 2025.

In a Vanity Fair interview, Pascal noted that he has encountered more public "disgruntlement" around his casting as Mister Fantastic than for any previous role. This criticism has been more pronounced than what he faced when cast as Joel in HBO’s The Last of Us adaptation, Oberyn Martell in HBO’s Game of Thrones, or the title character in the Star Wars series The Mandalorian.

“I’m beginning to feel a growing excitement because the response seems to mirror our shared vision—to pour our hearts into this genre and present them openly,” he remarked. “You simply never know whether audiences will embrace your heartfelt performance or reject it.”

“I’ve never been more conscious of backlash surrounding a casting decision,” Pascal added. “Critics say things like, ‘He’s too old,’ ‘He’s not the right fit,’ or ‘He should shave.’”

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Ever since Pascal was announced as the actor taking on Reed Richards, debate has swirled around whether he physically embodies the character. While some have criticized his mustache in the role, others note that we've only seen a brief look at Pascal as Mister Fantastic and emphasize that a performance involves far more than appearance alone.

Nevertheless, Pascal has found a supporter in Robert Downey Jr. The former Iron Man actor, who is set to portray Doctor Doom, will share the screen with Pascal in 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday. Predictably, Pascal remained tight-lipped about details of the highly secretive project.

“He is so instantly warm and welcoming that it gives you permission to feel uncertain, vulnerable, or even indifferent,” Pascal said of Downey.

Marvel Studios already appears confident in this new iteration of The Fantastic Four. Last week, reports suggested the studio is already developing a sequel—despite the blockbuster being more than a month away from its theatrical release.