Marvel has kept the fans on the edge when it comes to the future projects of the MCU, one of which also includes the highly anticipated Fantastic Four movie. Despite the studio keeping details about the cast and plot under wraps, Pedro Pascal has recently become closely associated with playing Mr. Fantastic in the MCU. And insider Jeff Sneider shed light on the potential reason behind the studio’s interest in bringing The Last of Us star onboard in the recent episode of The Hot Mic podcast.
Marvel Studios Wants Pedro Pascal to Keep Fantastic Four Cast Diverse
In a recent episode of The Hot Mic, insider Jeff Sneider talked about the alleged Pedro Pascal casting in the MCU’s Fantastic Four reboot. According to Sneider, Marvel head Kevin Feige was concerned about a potentially overly white cast and wanted “someone of color” as Mr. Fantastic and the movie’s villain.
The Hot Mic duo has earlier emphasized that there’s “no way there’s gonna be just 4 white people” in Fantastic Four. And the studio has allegedly been planning the same, having Pascal and the Spanish actor Javier Bardem in the movie as Reed Richards and Galactus, respectively.
Sneider also revealed that the studio hasn’t finalized the cast for all four superheroes. However, The Mandalorian star’s casting has also remained uncertain, as reports claimed that the Chilean actor’s schedule could be a conflicting factor in signing up for the MCU.
Pascal’s busy lineup includes a second season for the HBO series The Last of Us, the sequel to Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning film Gladiator, and Zach Cregger’s horror epic Weapons, among some of his upcoming projects.
Read More: Pedro Pascal’s Star Wars Show Was Stolen From Fast X Director’s Rejected Pitch By Disney
Fantastic Four Director Reacts to the Casting Rumors
In 2022, Marvel Studios announced that the WandaVision director, Matt Shakman, will be directing the Fantastic Four movie. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the filmmaker reacted to the rumors surrounding the movie’s lead cast.
He said that similar to fans, he has also been wondering about who could play Marvel’s first family on screen. “I understand the exhaustion of the Internet rumors, but I also celebrate them, too, because I am a huge fan of the Fantastic Four,” he said, stating that he understands fans’ enthusiasm.
“I understand the interest, and I support it,” he told The Hollywood Reporter. Shakman also said that the cast of the highly anticipated MCU film will be revealed soon, which has reportedly been delayed due to the now-resolved SAG-AFTRA strike.
Marvel Studios’ Fantastic Four is set to release on May 2, 2025.
Read More: Pedro Pascal Became a Reluctant Daddy in a Forgotten Sci-Fi Movie Way Before ‘The Last of Us’
