Pedro Pascal almost played James Wesley in Daredevil, a Marvel role that could have drastically changed the course of his career in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Instead, Pascal is now stepping into the spotlight as Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic, in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, marking an important new chapter for both the actor and Marvel fans awaiting the film’s release on July 25, 2025.
Pedro Pascal’s Surprising Near-Miss with the Daredevil Series
Before gaining wide acclaim for his roles in highly popular shows and movies, Pedro Pascal was considered for a spot in one of Marvel’s earliest and successful streaming series. The actor, known for his standout performances in Game of Thrones, The Last of Us, and The Mandalorian, revealed that he auditioned for a role in the original Daredevil series when Game of Thrones season 4 was making headlines in 2014. Despite the growing momentum in his career, Pascal was not yet the leading figure he would soon become across Hollywood and the Marvel universe.
During a SAG-AFTRA Foundation interview reflecting on his path in the industry, Pascal shared insights about this lesser-known chapter of his career. When asked about the role, he clarified that it was not the main character, Matt Murdock, but a supporting figure connected to the legal world of Hell’s Kitchen.
“Pedro Pascal: I was auditioning for Daredevil for Marvel.
Jenelle Riley: For Matt Murdock? Or Happy?
Pedro Pascal: No, it was like a sixth…it was like a supporting character. You know, ‘Character number six.’ He was a lawyer. I can’t remember the name…so I was going to test for that role.”
—Pedro Pascal, Actor
This insight points to just how close Pascal came to being woven into Marvel’s tapestry at a different angle, highlighting the industry’s unpredictable nature and casting decisions that can shape careers for years to come. Even as stars rise, initial offers might look very different from what comes later.
Speculation Around Pascal’s Potential Role and Its Importance
Given the timeline of Daredevil’s premiere in 2015, and reflecting on the show‘s ensemble of legal characters, it becomes evident that Pascal’s audition was likely not for a core hero but for someone on the fringes of the main narrative. The absence of many prominent lawyer roles within the show—outside of Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson—led fans to speculate that Pascal could have been in line to portray James Wesley, the trusted right-hand man of Kingpin, played by Vincent D’Onofrio.
James Wesley served as a calm and calculating force, managing Kingpin’s affairs and frequently covering legal ground for Marvel’s famed antagonist. Casting Pascal in this role would have offered a distinctive stamp, as Wesley’s blend of intellect and quiet menace matches the type of layered characters that Pascal excelled with elsewhere. However, the role eventually went to Toby Leonard Moore. Marvel Studios often refers to significant roles in vague terms during early casting to prevent story details from leaking, making it plausible that Wesley would have been downplayed as “character number six” in audition scripts. This strategy enabled the studio to maintain secrecy around Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin and the show’s surprise elements.
The selection of Pascal for this supporting part could have had long-standing ripple effects, given Wesley’s notable presence in the first season, even though his run was short-lived due to his dramatic fate at the hands of Karen Page.
Why Pascal’s Non-Involvement Opened Up Greater Marvel Opportunities
While the possibility of Pedro Pascal joining the ranks of Daredevil cast members was intriguing, fans and critics alike have pointed out how casting him as James Wesley might have closed doors for the actor in the MCU rather than opening them. In Daredevil’s first season, Wesley’s storyline ends with his sudden death, removing the character from the narrative and, by extension, making future appearances for the actor within the same universe unlikely. This is particularly vital, as Marvel rarely recasts actors for major roles when their first characters played pivotal parts or appeared in memorable storylines.
This policy has a few exceptions. For instance, Gemma Chan took on the role of Sersi in Eternals after previously playing Minn-Erva, a much smaller part, in Captain Marvel. However, Wesley’s centrality to Kingpin’s arch and the dark drama of Daredevil would have likely prevented Pascal from participating further in the MCU if he had secured the role. Instead, he now has the chance to define the next iteration of Mister Fantastic, carrying the responsibility of bringing one of Marvel’s defining leaders to life in The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Pedro Pascal’s Evolving Role Within the Marvel Universe
Having avoided being anchored to Daredevil, Pedro Pascal’s Marvel journey is instead poised to shape the future of the franchise. Reed Richards, his upcoming role, is considered among Marvel’s most revered and high-expectation characters, especially as the Fantastic Four’s cinematic track record has been mixed. Pascal’s involvement carries both the legacy of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s creation and the challenge of solidifying Marvel’s first family as central to future storylines.
His journey to this major opportunity began with smaller screen appearances, including work in crime and drama TV series, before major breakout roles launched him onto the main stage. Game of Thrones season 4 was a major pivot, making Pascal one of Hollywood’s most sought-after names, and leading ultimately to his latest leap into headlining an MCU feature. Alongside co-stars Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm, Pascal is stepping into a film helmed by director Matt Shakman and produced by Kevin Feige, Jamie Christopher, Louis D’Esposito, and Tim Lewis. The script draws on the talents of Jeff Kaplan, Josh Friedman, Ian Springer, Eric Pearson, Jack Kirby, and Stan Lee.
Marvel’s Casting Choices and What They Mean for the MCU’s Future
Marvel’s approach to casting, with a mix of calculated secrecy and strategic planning, often influences not only the trajectory of individual actors but also the entire narrative scope of the cinematic universe. The decision not to cast Pedro Pascal as James Wesley may have been driven both by early draft scripts and the structures Marvel Studios uses to prevent leaks, but the ultimate outcome signals a broader intention for the studio’s evolving phases.
As the MCU plans out an ambitious slate of films—such as Thunderbolts*, Avengers: Doomsday, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Avengers: Secret Wars—putting talent like Pascal in roles that can help anchor entire franchises becomes even more important. Reed Richards is not only pivotal to the Fantastic Four but could shape key parts of the overarching Marvel saga for years to come.
Meanwhile, the original Daredevil series, which ran from 2015 to 2018 under showrunner Steven S. DeKnight and featured actors Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock, Rosario Dawson, and Toby Leonard Moore, remains influential as the MCU builds on its legacy with projects like Disney+’s upcoming Daredevil: Born Again. Kingpin, portrayed by Vincent D’Onofrio, stood as a central figure across its narrative complexities, and Karen Page’s arc—including her confrontation with James Wesley—remains a centerpiece of tension and drama.
The Lasting Impact of ‘What Might Have Been’ in Marvel Casting
Reflecting on this near-miss, fans can appreciate the unpredictable dynamics of Hollywood casting. Had Pedro Pascal played James Wesley, audiences likely would not see him take on one of Marvel’s most high-profile and consequential roles in its next great saga. Instead, his contribution to the MCU is now poised to be far more significant, with the promise of reshaping perceptions of both the Fantastic Four and the shared universe’s future.
As The Fantastic Four: First Steps approaches its summer 2025 release, anticipation surges for how Pascal’s take on Reed Richards will fit into the evolving narrative architected by Marvel’s creators and writers. For Marvel, and for Pascal himself, a single missed casting has turned into an extraordinary opportunity with ramifications not just for one show, but for the entire superhero genre on screen.
