Pedro Pascal Acknowledges Fan Criticism Over Fantastic Four Casting News - Latest Updates and Information

Pedro Pascal has acknowledged the criticism surrounding his casting as Reed Richards in Marvel's upcoming film, "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," but revealed that Robert Downey Jr., who has portrayed both Iron Man and the upcoming Doctor Doom, has offered reassurance.

The 50-year-old actor will debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe this July as a key member of "The Fantastic Four." Marvel Studios and Disney are undoubtedly hoping this film will surpass the performance of this year's other MCU releases, such as "Captain America: Brave New World" and "Thunderbolts*." As one of the most anticipated movies of 2025, it's under especially close watch.

In a Vanity Fair profile, Pascal admitted he's more conscious of the public's "disgruntlement" over his role as Mister Fantastic than for any previous part. This includes the reactions to his casting as Joel in HBO's "The Last of Us," Oberyn Martell in "Game of Thrones," and the lead in "The Mandalorian."

“I'm beginning to feel excited because it seems to resonate with our shared vision—to pour our hearts out within this genre,” he commented. “You can never be sure if people will embrace your heart or be put off by it.”

“I've never been more aware of discontent about my casting,” Pascal added. “Comments like, 'He's too old,' 'He isn't a good fit,' or 'He needs to shave.'”

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Ever since Pascal was confirmed for the role of Reed Richards, there has been ongoing debate about whether he physically matches the character. While some have criticized his mustache, others note that we've only seen a brief look at his Mister Fantastic and that a performance involves far more than just appearance.

Nevertheless, Pascal shared that he has found support in Robert Downey Jr. The actor, famous for Iron Man and now set to play Doctor Doom, will appear alongside Pascal in 2026's "Avengers: Doomsday." Unsurprisingly, Pascal remained tight-lipped about the highly secretive project.

“He is so instantly welcoming and generous that you feel safe to express fear, uncertainty, or ambivalence,” Pascal said of Downey Jr.

It seems Marvel Studios is confident in this interpretation of "The Fantastic Four." Reports from last week indicated that a sequel is already in early development, even though the first film is still over a month away from its release.