Pedro Pascal, known for his roles in “The Mandalorian” and “The Last of Us,” is drawing attention for his approach to the Mister Fantastic character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As production for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” continues, Pascal revealed that Marvel Studios stepped in to guide his vocal performance, marking a notable moment in what is expected to be a significant role for him within the franchise.
Behind the Scenes: The Studio’s Dialect Direction
During a conversation with Vanity Fair, Pascal discussed how his interpretation of Reed Richards, also called Mister Fantastic, was distinct from what Marvel anticipated. Initially, Pascal leaned into a mid-Atlantic accent reminiscent of 1960s theater, a choice influenced by the era and the original tone of the character.
“The theater of that is something to step into. I don’t know if I do it well,”
—Pedro Pascal, Star of The Mandalorian
Pascal continued,
“They had to keep on pulling me back from a very mid-Atlantic early 60s talk. They had a dialect coach who was going to help us into that kind of dialect.”
—Pedro Pascal, Star of The Mandalorian
“I took to it so well, they had to pull me aside…they were like, ‘Uh, talk more like yourself.’ I had a hard time doing that because I was so into the era, which for me, was something to step into, as it’s different from what we’ve seen before,”
—Pedro Pascal, Star of The Mandalorian
“What they’ve created is something we haven’t seen.”
—Pedro Pascal, Star of The Mandalorian
Marvel’s Vision: Blending Classic and Modern Characters
The request for Pedro Pascal to scale back the classic accent reflects Marvel Studios’ attention to balancing nostalgia with continuity for current stories. The inclusion of a dialect coach highlights efforts to honor the character’s roots, while maintaining cohesion with the Earth-616 universe and the present-day Avengers, as well as other Marvel entities like the X-Men and Spider-Man.
As production ramps up for “Avengers: Doomsday” and anticipation grows for his appearance in “Avengers: Secret Wars,” Pascal is expected to become an integral member of the MCU’s First Family and a key participant in upcoming crossover events.
What This Means for the MCU’s Future
Marvel Studios’ guidance on Pascal’s performance illustrates their commitment to shaping a unified world where characters like Mister Fantastic fit seamlessly alongside established favorites. As the storylines converge and the Multiverse arcs conclude, audiences can look forward to a more interconnected Marvel Cinematic Universe, where the Fantastic Four, brought to life by Pascal and the rest of the cast, play an essential role in the evolving narrative landscape.
