More Than a Marvel Star: Pedro Pascal’s Fight for What Matters

Celebrities are strange entities: humanoid, yet so far removed from a reality most of us are familiar with that they occupy a space all their own. This is particularly true in an era when public image management and corporate gatekeeping rule the roost. When Hollywood’s airwaves once teemed with journalists who would sit down with actors for hours, allowing them to flesh out their experiences and musings at length, they now seem to be occupied by influencer interviews, lifestyle updates, clickbait hot takes, and other tidbits. In a media environment that has little time or patience for nuance and makes it feel like every celebrity is in a cage, it’s understandable when stars often seem distant or defensive.

Pedro Pascal isn’t the actor you’re looking for. The 50-year-old Chilean-American superstar has gained international recognition through his performances in The Mandalorian, The Last of Us, The Rocketeer, and Narcos: Mexico. Pascal is now Marvel’s new favorite actor as he’s the leading star of the studio’s upcoming superhero flick The Fantastic Four: First Steps as Dr. Reed Richards. And like a true Marvel hero, this actor uses his influence to champion social justice and humanitarian causes, even as the studio and its official PR team are speaking on his behalf. Pascal might just be the rare superstar that fans think rose to the occasion naturally and not just through some five-year marketing plan.

On Instagram alone, Pascal’s 11 million followers have seen him post about everything from celebrity death news to Gaza’s food blockades to wearing “Protect The Dolls” shirts in support of the LGBTQ+ community. This is not to mention Pascal sharing donation links to Doctors Without Borders and The Trevor Project. His platform has long been used to address pertinent world issues.

In his first official interview for The Fantastic Four press tour in London, Pascal revealed to Sky News that there’s a fear of consequences in this day and age when it comes to speaking openly in public.

“It’s very easy to get scared, no matter what you sort of talk about,” said Pascal. The fears of having your words being used against you, especially when separated from context and often carelessly spun into viral videos and news headlines, are very much warranted.

“It’s just so easy for something to kind of go awry and have a life of itself that I don’t think is actually what you were referring to,” Pascal said. He elaborated on this and noted how those “different headlines” can change the meanings of sentences and, by extension, a person’s original intention behind saying or posting them.

However, the last thing Pascal said during the four-minute-long interview was about the topic at hand, but a warning (or a promise) that: “I’ll never shut up.”

Pedro Pascal’s Legacy: Honesty in a Dishonest Industry

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is already a natural for Pascal. In the film, he plays the titular character of Reed Richards—a man who shoulders the weight of the world as a scientist and hero while on the cusp of a family of his own with his partner, Sue Storm (played by Vanessa Kirby). Much like in real life, where Pascal is no stranger to the burden of public attention, he also has Richard’s example to follow as a character with principles.

The new standalone film is directed by WandaVision helmer Matt Shakman. Aside from Pascal, the Fantastic Four: First Steps cast includes Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn. Pascal, with the intimidating reputation he’s built and maintained over the years, will have a lot to do with how audiences would perceive the new project from Marvel.

Pascal is neither a young actor nor someone who had to age themselves to obtain the roles they wanted to play. He has been working steadily for the past couple of decades, and his previous filmography speaks volumes for the kind of person he is. When many celebrities remain mum on world affairs and socio-political issues just so they could avoid controversy and the like, Pascal’s decision to keep speaking out may not be brash, but it has an effect: It’s a power in resistance and an attempt to make a difference.

Pedro Pascal is more than a superhero (on screen) and has proven time and time again that he’s a force to be reckoned with (off screen).