From “Protect The Dolls” to Palestine: Pedro Pascal Speaks Out

The live-action version of The Fantastic Four, Marvel’s film, features Pascal as lead, Reed Richards. It’s a superhero title he is both familiar with and new to. Pascal appeared in the superhero genre last year when The Mandalorian was in its full run. He was seen donning a Mandalorian helmet and suit.

Stars are distant. That much has become a necessary luxury of these managed celebrity cultures under corporate gatekeeping. When stars do feel isolated or gun-shy, it’s no surprise. Celebrity culture is in a media environment that is unrecognizable to most. Journalists and studio reporters used to spend more time with actors in deep, robust interviews. The bulk of media is taken up by influencer interviews and digestible content that can churn through ideas quickly. It’s a landscape that begets public figures living in fear of what they say in the public sphere, how it can be twisted out of context, and how viral culture can weaponize those statements.

Pedro Pascal is different. The 50-year-old actor has managed to balance a sense of personal advocacy with newfound stardom. He has always spoken up. But as his stardom has become more global, Pascal’s fans feel like they’re getting a rare look behind the curtain.

“I think it’s very easy to get scared, no matter what you sort of talk about,” Pascal told Sky News in a London press tour.

The actor is no stranger to speaking about political, humanitarian, and social justice issues. Away from superheroes and Marvel movie promotions, Pascal uses the spotlight in the best way: speaking up. An Instagram scroll of Pascal’s nearly 11 million followers includes content on food blockades in Gaza, the actor wearing shirts that read “Protect The Dolls” in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community, and clickable links to organizations like Doctors Without Borders and The Trevor Project.

On why he remains outspoken in an industry that can be hyper-reactive to public critique, Pascal made it clear that he isn’t backing down.

“There’s one thing that you can say and no matter what your intention behind it, it is lost in all of these different headlines, I suppose—but I’ll never shut up.”

The sentence is bold. It’s also jarring, given the nature of new media and viral culture. A single sentence, taken out of context, can be circulated on TikTok or reshaped as a headline within the hour. “There are so many different ways that things can get kind of fractured and have a life of itself,” he said to Sky News. Pascal is under no illusions as to the dangers of speaking up. He will continue to do so anyway.

Pedro Pascal and what he represents.

In The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Pascal stars as Dr. Reed Richards. A scientist, superhero, and dedicated husband-to-be to Sue Storm. He is tasked with preparing for the birth of their child and is simultaneously responsible for the preservation of the human race. The metaphor should not be lost.

Pascal is a superhero in his own right. It’s easy to forget that Pascal, while a household name, isn’t famous like many of his peers. He has been in the industry since 1997. As such, his star status is attributed to his slow burn and stable media profile. The actor was not thrust into fame via social media virality or intentional marketing (not that these tactics aren’t popular and successful).

The film is directed by WandaVision’s Matt Shakman and follows the new standalone version of the franchise. Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn also star in the movie. But Pascal is by far the most impressive in the cast based on off-screen ethics.

He will continue to talk. Pascal will speak up. He will keep bringing activism to the new space he now inhabits in the public eye. It’s not the job of a celebrity to be vocal. But being human requires it.

Pedro Pascal is an excellent pick to lead.

I choose to write about Pascal, who now finds himself leading the genre that typically abstains from public speech, because I have been an admirer for years. An early personal favorite is Pascal’s performance in Jack Irish. A combination of Los Angeles Beach Boys and Panic! At The Disco streams on Spotify, he sits as comfortably as he does on camera. He is intelligent, distinct, and unafraid to keep evolving in his craft.

His characters also show different sides of a personality than what is presented in the mainstream. He is both intense and vulnerable. But he is human first, despite what the title of The Fantastic Four suggests. Perhaps that is what is needed now.

What’s your favorite Pedro Pascal movie or series? Let us know in the comments below.