Marvel Studios is closing in on securing Pedro Pascal for the role of Reed Richards in the upcoming Fantastic Four film, marking a significant casting development post the recent actors’ strike. While talks are underway, the outcome hinges on scheduling considerations, and the current status of negotiations remains uncertain. Marvel has refrained from commenting on the matter, and the news initially surfaced through genre-centric journalist Daniel Richtman on his Patreon account.
Speculation regarding the Fantastic Four cast has been rife for over a year, and Pascal’s potential involvement adds a popular and noteworthy star to Marvel’s lineup as it moves beyond the actors associated with the Infinity Saga.
Pedro Pascal (Credits: Getty Images)
Known for his lead role in the HBO series The Last of Us, Pascal is also set to return for the second season of the show. Additionally, he plays a pivotal role in Disney+’s The Mandalorian and is slated to resume filming for Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2, which was temporarily halted during the recent actors’ strike. Pascal previously portrayed a villain in Warner Bros.’ and DC’s Wonder Woman 1984 and featured in Kingsman: The Golden Circle.
Fantastic Four still has three pivotal roles to cast: The Invisible Woman, The Thing, and The Human Torch. The film, directed by Matt Shakman of WandaVision fame, is scheduled for release on May 2, 2025. The script, initially penned by Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer, is undergoing further revisions by Josh Friedman, known for his work on Avatar: The Way of Water.
Reed Richards, the leader of Marvel’s First Family, was introduced in Fantastic Four No. 1 in 1961, playing a crucial role in launching the Marvel Comics Universe, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Ioan Gruffudd and Miles Teller have previously portrayed the character in mid-2000s movies and a 2015 reboot, respectively. John Krasinski also portrayed a version of Reed in the MCU’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in 2022.
Pedro Pascal is represented by CAA in negotiations for the coveted role.
