Hollywood May Be Quiet, But Pedro Pascal Has Something to Say

Hollywood was built by media hogs, the megaphone men who couldnt wait to talk over each other in a crowded room to yell one more soundbite into the world. Fast forward to 2022, and this seems like a different galaxy. Celebrities are anything but outspoken. Most walk with the golden retriever of a publicist by their side and treat interviews like timed readings from an ACLU compliance test. Thats one reason why Pedro Pascal is so refreshing.

The Emmy nominee is embarking on one of his busiest press tours yet for his new film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but he isnt afraid to say what he means. Hell readily tackle hot-button social issues like the difference between movies and theater. He talks openly about social responsibility and his work with various nonprofits, including Doctors Without Borders and The Trevor Project. (Oh, and dont get him started on climate change.) When you take a sabbatical and restart a career at 40+, like Pascal did, you get to choose who you become. So far, Pascal has been unapologetically himself.

Amid the London press blitz for First Steps, Pascal took a few minutes between Sky News and The Hollywood Reporter interviews to chat with Skys journalist. As the two talked, it became clear this wasnt your typical gag reel tick-tape exercise. Pascal, with his sly humor and clear, unwavering views, knew what he wanted to say, even if it wasnt quite clear what question Sky had asked.

I think its very easy to get scared, no matter what you sort of talk about, Pascal said. There are so many different ways that things can get kind of fractured and have a life of itself.

Fair enough. In a world of TikTok edits and misleading, clickbait headlines, celebrity reactions and quote commentary often seem like the premeditated explosion that could come with any press junket sentence. Most actors and actresses have internalized this truism and learned to walk before they run, err on the side of caution, and carefully sign off on response verbiage. Pascal will have none of it.

Theres one thing that you can say, and no matter what your intention behind it, it is lost in all of these different headlines, I suppose, he continued, before answering his question with the real mic-drop of the interview. But Ill never shut up.

Say what you will about people who dive in at the deep end, but there is something to be said for truth in this day and age. Hearing Pascals plainspoken authenticity was a relief. Its rare to hear such a force of nature say, with the entire media complex blinking at him, that he just isnt interested in keeping his trap shut when he sees a cause he can champion.

And this has rung true in the past as well. Its rare for Pascal to step out in public without drawing attention to some cause or other. Look at the clothing he wears, like the Protect The Dolls T-shirt he sported in Hong Kong that referenced the drag show bans in the U.S. state of Texas. On Instagram, its not uncommon to see Pascal use his platform to point out a news story that needs attention, like the blockade of food into Gaza. He seems well aware of the privilege fame brings, but Pascal is a rare figure who speaks his mind and wants his audience to do the same.

And who knows? This same commitment to authentic communication might be just the reason Pascal fits so well as the big-screen Fantastic Fours smartest member, Dr. Reed Richards.

Reed Richards is the first man who is often asked to save the entire world and the personal architect of one of the most famous families in comic books. When hes not troubleshooting gamma radiation leaks, hes finishing renovations in time to have a baby with his wife, Sue Storm.

In many ways, Pascals Dr. Reed Richards will be no different. As a multi-hyphenate superstar both in front of and behind the camera, Pascal is familiar with the conflicts between his high-profile work and everyday life. His role as the voice of reason among the Fantastic Four is a perfect embodiment of the man himself. Pascal is the one asked to hold the group together both on and off the screen. Hes tasked with not just being the smartest of the bunch but also with carrying the emotional depth of the character.

Directed by Matt Shakman of WandaVision fame, First Steps is an easy entry point to the MCU. Set before the existing Fantastic Four cinematic adventures, the film follows Dr. Richards on his journey. With a supporting cast that includes Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn, Pascal has a great deal of familiarity with his new costars. They spent the better part of two years working on an MCU cornerstone, and the chemistry on display between them should benefit Pascals Richards immensely.

Pascal, as Reed Richards, also feels tailor-made. The doctor is both the most intelligent and the most reserved of the team. Pascals take on Reed is very much this side of the emotive reader, but hes also no dummy, much like his hero. Pascal plays this fine line between muted and snarky with the grace of a man who knows how to maneuver in the spotlight. Hes a household name, both famous and familiar, and he isnt afraid to say what he means or bring real emotion to his work.

In this attention economy, where publicity machines have often polished out the edges that made the old-school stars so brash and colorful, Pascal is a return to form, even as he manages to be a part of a modern Hollywood success story.

Pedro Pascal understands the stakes. He has been both on the receiving and giving end of social media and entertainments rapid feedback cycle, particularly when it comes to fame. The man has seen what can happen when a quote isnt packaged just right or when a colleague can make a false step and face a backlash. If any public figure should be afraid to speak out, it is he. He knows.

But for Pascal, this wont stop him.

Pedro Pascal chooses the hard road. He will be outspoken, and sometimes the louder you are, the more you risk. But thats just the thing. Pascal is choosing the harder path to walk, and hes walking it anyway. The result, for audiences, is a glimpse into a celebrity willing to speak up at a time when many of them dont.

Pedro Pascal is fantastic. And no, that isnt just because hes donning a spandex suit to save the world from interdimensional antagonists with his new squad. Sometimes, being fantastic is just a matter of speaking your mind.