A New Chapter in the Marvel Saga
Robert Downey Jr. is no stranger to turning heads in Hollywood, but this time, it was not for a red carpet or a new Iron Man suit. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, the Oscar winner turned Doctor Doom took a moment to spotlight another actor sharing the Marvel spotlight: Pedro Pascal. Known for his resilience, charm, and unconventional rise to fame, Pascal is now set to lead The Fantastic Four: First Steps as Reed Richards, also known as Mr. Fantastic. For Downey, Pascal’s presence in the MCU is not just good casting, it is a symbol of something deeper.
“Pascal’s slow trajectory to becoming a household name who is on a wildly hot streak kind of reaffirms my faith in our industry,” Downey told Vanity Fair. His words came with weight, not just because of his status in Hollywood, but because he has watched many actors rise and fall. In Pascal, Downey sees not just a co-star, but an emblem of hope for what Hollywood can still be when authenticity is valued over flash.
Pascal’s resume backs up the praise. With lead roles in The Last of Us, The Mandalorian, and Materialists, his presence is inescapable across streaming and cinema. The fact that he is now anchoring one of Marvel’s most iconic franchises speaks volumes about how far he has come since his early character work. But according to Downey, it is not just Pascal’s talent that stands out. It is his humility, generosity, and ability to connect with those around him.
Building Chemistry Before the Battle
Behind the scenes, the bond between Downey and Pascal has already begun to take shape. According to Vanity Fair, Downey has been hosting what he playfully calls “Avengers cast homework days,” inviting MCU newcomers to his home for bonding sessions that double as franchise preparation. Pascal was part of one of those gatherings and, as reported, was joined by fellow Fantastic Four stars Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach.
When asked whether he considers himself part of the Avengers, Pascal was coy. “I don’t know, I don’t know,” he told the magazine. But the implication was clear. With Downey circling back into the MCU as Doctor Doom after a decade as Iron Man, these interactions feel more than casual. They signal a narrative handoff, a generational shift from one Marvel era to the next, with Downey helping ease that transition for Pascal.
Pascal admitted he felt the pressure. “I’m more aware of disgruntlement around my casting than anything I’ve ever done. ‘He’s too old. He’s not right. He needs to shave,'” he said. Yet he credited Downey with helping him feel grounded. “He’s just so immediately generous and inviting that you feel like you can be afraid, you can be hungry, you can be ambivalent.” In an industry often driven by ego, that kind of support is rare, and it appears to be something Pascal does not take lightly.
Vulnerability, Legacy, and the Face of Modern Masculinity
It is not just Robert Downey Jr. who sees something special in Pedro Pascal. Co-star Vanessa Kirby, who plays Sue Storm in The Fantastic Four, said Pascal brings an “immense vulnerability” to the role of Mr. Fantastic. “He doesn’t have much armor, so he shows himself to you straight away,” Kirby said. “You trust that person because he’s revealing himself to you in this very brave way.” In a superhero world filled with bravado, Pascal’s approach feels like a reset.
That same sentiment was echoed by director Spike Jonze, who recently worked with Pascal on an Apple ad campaign. Though unaffiliated with Marvel, Jonze captured something essential about the actor’s appeal. “I think that he’s what we want in masculinity,” Jonze told Vanity Fair. The statement was simple but powerful. In an age where audiences are hungry for complexity and depth in their leading men, Pascal is delivering something that feels both timely and timeless.
Downey’s admiration for Pascal is not just a passing compliment. It is a nod to the evolving nature of Hollywood, where substance is beginning to win out over spectacle. In celebrating Pascal’s rise, Downey is championing a quieter kind of stardom, one rooted in empathy, patience, and grit. As these two powerhouses prepare to face off as Doctor Doom and Mr. Fantastic, the real story may not be who wins in battle, but how respect, vulnerability, and mentorship are shaping the next phase of the MCU.