‘Comes With Territory': Pedro Pascal On ‘Age Backlash' Over Fantastic Four Casting
Hollywood actor Pedro Pascal has officially joined the Marvel Universe with his casting as Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic, in the upcoming film 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps."
While many celebrated the announcement, others expressed disappointment over his age. People took to social media and argued that Pascal may be too old to portray the iconic superhero role.
The Game of Thrones actor, who is known for brushing off public scrutiny, has now opened up, six months after Marvel Studios announced its lineup, admitting that the backlash over his age hit more than usual.
Speaking to AP News during the Fantastic Four fan event in London, the 50-year-old said, 'I think that sometimes the outside will find you no matter how much you try to protect yourself from it and it just comes with the territory."
He further stated, 'I think maybe my nerves were bigger than they usually are and so I think I just was a little bit more sensitive to the love that people have for stories like this because I know that they wouldn't exist if it weren't for the love that people have for these characters."
Pascal mentioned that even though people are criticising him for the role, he is trying his best to stay committed and provide justice to the role. He said, 'I think that it's very important for me that expectations be fulfilled. But I also know that the only way to do that is to give it all my focus and all my heart and my body and my soul and so that was the best I could do."
At a 'Fantastic Four" fan event in London, Pedro Pascal reveals how he dealt with backlash over his casting as Mr. Fantastic, after some commentators claimed he was too old to play the character. pic.twitter.com/MLvocaF7j1 — AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) July 11, 2025
Fantastic Four was first released in 2005, followed by a sequel in 2007, with Ioan Gruffudd playing the role of Reed Richards. Later, a reboot was made in 2015, in which Miles Teller took on the role.
In the 2022 film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, John Krasinski made a brief appearance as an alternate Reed. Pedro, who is 50 years old, is the oldest actor to play the role; Ioan, Miles and John were 31, 28 and 42 years old, respectively.
Helmed by Matt Shakman, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is slated to hit the theatres on July 25. Along with Pascal, the film will also star Vanessa Kirby, Julia Garner, Ralph Ineson, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach in pivotal roles.
First Published:
July 12, 2025, 17:26 IST
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