Pedro Pascal Addresses Age Criticism for Fantastic Four Role

Pedro Pascal, at 50 years old, has faced age-related criticism for his casting as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic in Marvel's upcoming film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Despite being the oldest actor to portray the character, Pascal expressed that the backlash affected him more than usual, acknowledging the deep passion fans have for the beloved superhero stories. He emphasized his commitment to fulfilling fan expectations by dedicating his full focus and energy to the role. The film, set in a retro-futuristic 1960s-inspired alternate universe, follows Reed Richards and his team gaining powers after a cosmic ray accident, with Pascal leading alongside Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Pascal understands the challenge ahead, especially given previous Fantastic Four adaptations underperformed, but remains undeterred and focused on delivering a compelling portrayal. His remarks highlight the tension between fan expectations and casting decisions in major franchise films.