As one of the most popular actors in the world right now, you should expect to see Pedro Pascal in many movies and television shows in the coming years. He’s already got six upcoming projects confirmed, with the TV show My Dentist’s Murder Trial and the movies Drive-Away Dolls, The Uninvited, Gladiator 2, Tropico, and Fantastic Four all on the horizon.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe offering Fantastic Four, Pedro Pascal will play Reed Richards, the eponymous team’s stretchy and super-intelligent leader. Despite Pascal’s popularity, his casting in the role is a point of contention among fans, some of whom don’t see him as the ideal candidate. This piece will list five of the actor’s past big and small screen roles, proving he’ll make an excellent MCU Reed Richards.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is HBO’s brilliant fantasy drama series based on George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series of novels. Set in the fictional Seven Kingdoms of the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos, it chronicles the political conflicts between various noble families for the highly sought-after Iron Throne and aired from 2011 until 2019.
Pedro Pascal plays Oberyn Martell, a member of House Martell, the ruling family of Dorne. He appears in seven episodes of 2014’s fourth season. Oberyn is skilled with a staff, highly sexed, and, most notably, wise with a keen intellect. His ability to exude intelligence will be important when playing Reed Richards.
The Mandalorian
Disney+’s The Mandalorian is a space Western series and the first live-action series in the Star Wars franchise. It follows the eponymous lone bounty hunter – real name Din Djarin – who must go on the run to keep the Force-sensitive child Grogu safe from remnant Imperial forces. It began in 2019 and is ongoing.
Pedro Pascal plays Din Djarin, and he does so splendidly. His brilliant physical acting will be important when playing Reed Richards to convey his elasticity powers. The show’s many action scenes, in which Pascal thrives, will also set him up nicely for superhero exploits.
We Can Be Heroes (2020)
Directed by Sin City’s Robert Rodriguez, We Can Be Heroes is a superhero movie and a standalone legacy sequel to 2005’s The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D. The plot sees alien invaders kidnapping Earth’s superheroes, prompting their children to work together to save them and the world.
Pedro Pascal plays Marcus Moreno, a master swordsman and the leader of the superhero team, the Heroics. The role gives him experience playing a superhero with leadership qualities, which will be vital in playing Reed Richards. As Moreno, he also shows a lot of heart, humanity, and love for his family, which will be equally essential.
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
The sequel to 2017’s Wonder Woman, directed by Monster’s Patty Jenkins, Wonder Woman 1984 is a DC Extended Universe movie set in 1984 during the Cold War. It follows the eponymous character and her past love, Steve Trevor, as they team up to combat two villains.
One of those villains is Maxwell Lord, played by Pedro Pascal. Pascal throws himself into the role, proving he’s game for anything and capable of surprising audiences. He chews the scenery and steals the show as the unhinged madman, and while his character bears little resemblance to Reed Richards, Pascal proves he can play a big personality in a superhero setting.
The Last of Us
The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic HBO drama series based on the Naughty Dog video game of the same name. It’s set two decades into a fungal pandemic that collapses society and changes those exposed to it into vicious zombie-like monsters. The first season aired in 2023, and the second will air in 2025.
Pedro Pascal plays Joel Miller, the main character and a hardened survivor. He conveys the character’s trauma superbly, but how protective he is towards Ellie, a young fellow survivor, is vital to his role as Reed Richards. Ellie effectively becomes Joel’s family. That protective nature towards family members is vital for playing a Fantastic Four member.
