The Hero Hollywood Needs: Pedro Pascal in Real Life

Pedro Pascal sees right through the curtain. We live in a generation of manufactured celebrity identities, curated by publicists, artfully manipulated by brands, and rigidly protected by big media and streaming conglomerates. In that kind of system, when a celebrity comes across as cold, detached, or painfully apologetic, it’s easy to understand why. The current state of Hollywood media is at best a warren of influencer interviews and soft questions, at worst, memetic sensationalism and call-out culture on social media. The fear of going viral—or worse, being misconstrued—has made public figures more likely to repeat PR talking points than candidly answer interview questions.

Pedro Pascal is having none of it. In a celebrity culture built around algorithms and brand deals, the actor’s commitment to speaking his mind about important issues doesn’t feel performative. In a candid interview with Sky News in London during the press tour for The Fantastic Four, the Chilean-American star said, “I think it’s very easy to get scared no matter what you sort of talk about,” alluding to his hesitancy to share candid commentary. The Fantastic Four: First Steps marks Pascal’s debut as Marvel’s new Mr. Fantastic, Reed Richards. But outside of costumed spandex and red carpets, Pascal is outspoken on several fronts, from political and humanitarian issues to ongoing social justice work.

The Instagram star—11 million followers and counting—posts regularly about topics unrelated to his projects. He uses his platform to advocate for food blockades in Gaza and medical treatment in Palestine. The Chilean-American has also taken to Instagram Stories to wear “Protect The Dolls” shirts, in support of the LGBTQ+ community, and share links to a number of different charities, including Doctors Without Borders, Doctors for Gaza, and The Trevor Project.

Pedro Pascal not only challenges but also goes around corporate gatekeeping. The public image of celebrities is much different than how their careers began, or the roles they took on earlier in their careers. Pascal came up through David Lynch films and gritty serialized shows like John From Cincinnati, plus roles in television productions like Twin Peaks, Game of Thrones, and Warrior. With every upcoming role, Pascal was seen as in of new projects. Though he’s likely earned some measure of fame through the character of Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones, he has steadily continued his climb toward stardom. He appeared on Colbert before starring as the latest public image of Daniel Jackson from Stargate. Pascal also stars in The Last of Us for HBO, the upcoming Pixar show “Strange Loop” on Apple TV+, as well as had roles in Machete Kills, Baby Driver, and Lost in Translation.

Now, in addition to his next film, The Last Son, a foreign disaster film, Pascal is making his Marvel debut as Dr. Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. In his interview with Sky News, Pascal opened up about his aversion to the culture of fear that keeps other stars silent.

“It’s just that very specific moment in that story, of somebody who’s just had all the weight of the universe kind of put on their shoulders at once while they’re also about to become a father,” Pascal said. “It’s just this old Superman, kind of idea of the protector or the hero.”

Of course, Pascal isn’t just acting. His presence and body of work over the past few years prove that he is one of the few celebrities today who understands that role beyond acting.

Directorial duties fall to WandaVision’s Matt Shakman. The cast also includes Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm (The Invisible Woman), Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm (The Thing), and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm (The Human Torch).