Rumour: Pedro Pascal to take on leading role in "Fantastic Four"
Is this the salvation for the tottering Marvel film universe? None other than Pedro Pascal is to take on the role of Reed Richards. And: the villain Galactus is also to be played by a high-calibre actor.
It's just a rumour. But one that has gained a lot of momentum in the last few hours. As Hollywood's most reliable industry publications are now unanimously reporting, not only has the lead actor of the upcoming "Fantastic Four" film from Marvel been revealed, but also who will play his antagonist.
We're talking about "The Mandalorian" star Pedro Pascal as super-genius Reed Richards and "Dune" star Javier Bardem as world devourer Galactus. This is reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Variety and Deadline.
The long-awaited turnaround for Marvel?
Nothing has been signed yet, they say, even if /Film claims the opposite. But the long wait for one of Marvel's most important casting decisions of recent years seems to be coming to an end. Ultimately, it depends on whether viewers are willing to give the ultimately flagging Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) one last chance.
Source: IGN / Marvel Studios
The last Marvel film to gross more than $1 billion (and wasn't produced by Sony) was Avengers: Endgame. Four years ago. Then there are the increasingly poor reviews. Five of the ten worst-rated Marvel films were made between 2021 and 2023. "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" recorded the biggest audience drop ever for a Marvel film between its first and second week of release. And The Marvels is well on its way to becoming the biggest cinema flop in Marvel's history.
No wonder, given that Marvel wants to use Pedro Pascal, one of the hottest actors in Hollywood at the moment. Pascal has appeared in pretty much every popular franchise in recent years: He rose to fame as Prince Oberyn Martell in "Game of Thrones". He then even got his own season as DEA agent Javier Peña in Netflix's "Narcos". However, his career really took off with his leading role in "The Mandalorian", before most recently starring again in HBO's acclaimed "The Last of Us".
Why Reed Richards is so important for the MCU
One thing is certain: 48-year-old Pascal is about to make an important decision. He should not only play the lead role for "Fantastic Four", but also carry the tarnished MCU on his broad shoulders for the next ten years - if this is still possible at all after years of carrying the "Star Wars" franchise.
Source: Disney+ / Lucasfilm
This would allow Pascal to fill the gaps left by the departures of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark and Chris Evans as Captain America. It fits: In the comics, Reed Richards has often taken on the leading role for the "Avengers" with his authority and charisma. And when top villain Galactus is also played by a high-calibre actor like Javier Bardem, the audience's interest will definitely be piqued. Bardem has already played memorable villains in "No Country for Old Men" and "James Bond: Skyfall".
We'll have to be patient until we know whether this interest can be turned into a cinema success. The cinema release is not planned until 2025.
Cover photo: «The Last of us», HBO / Sky Show
I'm an outdoorsy guy and enjoy sports that push me to the limit – now that’s what I call comfort zone! But I'm also about curling up in an armchair with books about ugly intrigue and sinister kingkillers. Being an avid cinema-goer, I’ve been known to rave about film scores for hours on end. I’ve always wanted to say: «I am Groot.»