Pedro Pascal is taking on the role of Reed Richards in Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps, bringing years of experience portraying notable father figures to his interpretation of this iconic Marvel leader. The highly anticipated movie, set for release on July 25, sees Pascal stepping into Marvel’s 1960s-inspired world, introducing a new dynamic to the character that stands out among past versions of Reed Richards—and the focus keyword, Pedro Pascal Fantastic Four Reed Richards, reflects the attention on his unique approach.
Pascal Reflects on Playing Reed Richards After Previous Film Versions
Pedro Pascal is the latest actor to portray Reed Richards, following the likes of Alex Hyde-White, Ioan Gruffudd, Miles Teller, and John Krasinski in past adaptations, including 1994’s unreleased Fantastic Four, the films from 2005 and 2015, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in 2022. Addressing expectations, Pascal explained to Vanity Fair how he approached the role given its long history in cinema.
“I’ll confess, I didn’t come at it with any sort of attempt at distinguishing it from previous authorships,”
—Pedro Pascal, Actor
Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, Pascal revealed his interest in absorbing all previous versions of the character as part of his process.
“I need all of the context and all of the information to kind of like — it’s silly to use the word ‘spiritually’ — but to spiritually kind of like enter into an experience, because I can’t compartmentalize.”
—Pedro Pascal, Actor
Pascal acknowledges the enduring legacy of Reed Richards.
“It’s all happened. It’s all been seen and done before by many,”
—Pedro Pascal, Actor. He describes letting all these influences live within his imagination, remarking,
“And so I want it all to kind of be living in my imagination.”
—Pedro Pascal, Actor.
A New Team Assembles: The Fantastic Four’s Revitalized Cast and Relationships
The new iteration of Marvel’s First Family stars Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing. This marks the franchise’s first on-screen depiction of Reed and Sue as a married couple navigating impending parenthood, with Sue pregnant with their son Franklin Richards—a notable departure from earlier live-action portrayals.
This shift in character dynamics brings fresh energy to the ensemble, a point Pascal is keenly aware of.
“It’s been a dream to join the MCU,”
—Pedro Pascal, Actor. Referencing his previous work as DC Comics villain Maxwell Lord in Wonder Woman 1984, Pascal emphasizes the sense of unity within the new cast. He continues, expressing both joy and humility at joining such a talented group:
“to be invited into a family and to also just kind of step into what is an ensemble, the movie is called The Fantastic Four.”
—Pedro Pascal, Actor.
Pascal even jokes about his own place among his cast mates, admitting,
“If there was a competition of who’s funniest, who is smartest, and who is the most talented, I’m number four. And I’m not even being modest here.”
—Pedro Pascal, Actor.
The actor is effusive in his praise for his co-stars, offering a candid and humorous take on their abilities.
“I have never been around, how dare they, I’ve never been around such talented f—ers in my life,”
—Pedro Pascal, Actor.
“Joe is astonishing to me. Ebon is one of the funniest — Ebon, to me, is a writer in the way that his mind works and the zingers that come out in conversation. And Vanessa Kirby is a force of nature.”
—Pedro Pascal, Actor.
Reed and Sue’s Evolving Relationship in the MCU
Previous portrayals of Reed Richards, such as John Krasinski’s version in Multiverse of Madness, hinted at the character’s parental side. Now, for the first time, Reed and Sue will be depicted as a married couple expecting a child—bringing the First Family moniker to the forefront in live-action for the MCU. Audiences will see the birth of Franklin Richards and the complexities that come with starting and sustaining a family while also being superheroes.
Kirby’s role as Sue Storm is significant not only for her powers but for the authenticity she brings to the on-screen marriage. Pascal openly credits her leadership and depth in exploring the realities of the Richards’ family life.
“was a leader for me in terms of getting into material like this and elevating it as much as we could, and making our relationship as real as it could possibly be,”
—Pedro Pascal, Actor. Regarding the creative process, he adds,
“I have no idea what they’ll end up using [in the finished cut], but what she and I put into it was really a marriage story for us in the most human way: keeping a family together, starting to expand on that family, the fear of that.”
—Pedro Pascal, Actor.
Exploring the Setting and High Stakes of The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Director Matt Shakman, known for WandaVision, brings a vibrant, retro-futuristic aesthetic inspired by the 1960s to this MCU reboot. The film introduces Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm—as they confront their greatest challenge yet: Galactus, a ravenous space god played by Ralph Ineson, and his Herald, Silver Surfer, brought to life by Julia Garner.
The synopsis reveals the enormity of the threat facing the group.
“Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner),”
—Official Film Synopsis. The stakes become deeply personal as
“if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, it suddenly gets very personal.”
—Official Film Synopsis.
Impact on the Marvel Cinematic Universe and What Lies Ahead
Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps not only reinvigorates the legacy of Reed Richards and his family but also promises to shape the future of the MCU with its retro reinvention and focus on complex family dynamics. Pascal’s performance, alongside Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, is anticipated to bring new chemistry and narrative depth to these beloved characters.
Looking beyond their upcoming July release, Pascal and his fellow cast members are confirmed to appear in Avengers: Doomsday in 2026 and Avengers: Secret Wars in 2027. This signals Marvel’s ongoing commitment to weaving the First Family into the broader tapestry of superhero stories that continue to engage fans around the world.
By centering the narrative on both powerful heroism and challenging family relationships, Marvel’s latest rendition of the Fantastic Four aims to set itself apart from earlier adaptations and expand the MCU to new emotional heights.
