- calendar_today August 9, 2025
The Power of Voice: Pedro Pascal on Speaking Truth in Hollywood
At a time when the entertainment industry is so ultra-sensitive that celebrities could get canceled just for misplacing a hyphen, many actors have found themselves erring on the side of caution. Skilled publicists, curated social media posts, pre-screened and edited interviews, it’s all part of the game for most A-list stars.
So, for anyone who’s sick of tiptoeing around a minefield of slurs and accusations, the latest interview with Pedro Pascal may be exactly what the doctor ordered. In an age where even the smallest miscue can become Hollywood’s latest scandal du jour, Pascal stands out because he is exactly who he is, regardless of potential backlash.
Social Issues, Non-profit organizations
The Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actor has a serious platform and global celebrity, with more than 11 million Instagram followers. In addition to his many hit projects, Pascal is also a vocal advocate for social issues, as well as supporting non-profit organizations like Doctors Without Borders and The Trevor Project. But for all his fame and acclaim, Pascal refuses to bite his tongue just because the spotlight is shining on him.
In a recent stop in London for press for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Pascal managed to steal a few moments away from the collective hysteria to speak to Sky News. Pascal opened up with the outlet about how these days, the media is so highly edited, produced, and censored that it almost comes with an asterisk.
“I think it’s very easy to get scared, no matter what you sort of talk about,” Pascal said. “There are so many different ways that things can get kind of fractured and have a life of itself.”
Pedro Pascal says, “I’ll never shut up.” It’s a refreshing reminder for all of us to embrace free speech. 4m 2s| Sky News
He’s not wrong. After all, living in a world where TikTok edits, parodies, and deepfakes are the norm and editors are prone to misquoting just to make headlines juicier, it’s no wonder that many stars feel like they have to tread lightly.
In fact, for some, the consequence has been complete radio silence. But for Pascal, who has long maintained a sort of off-the-cuff approach to his Hollywood career (remember when he appeared on a Flea cover of ‘The Pixies’ when he first got famous?), taking the high road has not gotten in the way of speaking his mind, whatever the subject.
“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,” Pascal continued before landing the mic-drop quote of the year. “But I’ll never shut up.”
Oof. Say what you will about Pedro Pascal, but if there’s anything that this award-winning actor can’t do, it’s boring.
These days, Pascal doesn’t just wear his politics on his Instagram feed (like when he put on a “Protect The Dolls” shirt outside while subtly shaming the ongoing ban of drag shows across the country) but in his heart as well. From using his Instagram stories to draw attention to the ongoing blockade of food to Gaza, or even when he jumped in his car during an episode of Baby Driver: Post-quel to prevent kids from going hungry, the beloved actor knows how to use his fame to make an impact.
But perhaps it’s that sincerity that makes his latest role in The Fantastic Four: First Steps even more resonant. Pascal plays the role of Dr. Reed Richards, who, along with the title Fantastic Four, has the heavy burden of a new addition to his and Sue Storm’s family. The film focuses on the father-to-be and his journey between the small milestones and enormous responsibilities that come with being superpowered.
Played with equal parts gravitas and introspection by Pascal, this incarnation of Professor X of the Fantastic Four saga is at once the world’s most powerful citizen and also a regular guy in an extraordinary situation. Pascal channels this duality expertly, bringing his version of Richards, which is only made more impressive by the director at the helm of the film, WandaVision’s Matt Shakman.
What’s great about Pascal as Dr. Richards is that the whole film has been designed to show different sides of the character. The movie serves as a standalone origin story within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as a new reboot of the Fantastic Four franchise, giving both Pascal and the supporting cast of Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm, and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm the space and opportunity to flex those chops.
And given that Pascal will be front and center as Reed Richards, Marvel found a perfect match in the Chilean-Canadian-American star. Not only does Pascal have experience playing larger-than-life characters, having appeared on shows like Game of Thrones and starring in major productions like The Old Guard, the actor has also cultivated a persona that feels more subdued in every way, which is only made more authentic by his real-life activism.
Pascal is a man who knows his worth. He has rocketed into stardom just in the past five years after a slow-but-steady climb up the Hollywood ranks, and he won’t let it get to his head.
Yet for all his understated and workmanlike way of getting work, his performance in The Fantastic Four: First Steps is no surprise. He is, in every sense of the word, fantastic, both on-screen and off.
