Latest news with #TheMandalorian
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Pedro Pascal reacts to 'too old' criticism over Reed Richards casting ahead of Marvel's Fantastic Four release; here's what he said
Pedro Pascal has responded to criticism surrounding his casting as Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic, in Marvel's upcoming film Fantastic Four: First Steps. The actor, known for The Mandalorian and The Last of Us, acknowledged fan concerns during an interview with Vanity Fair, specifically those pointing to his age and appearance. 'I'm more aware of disgruntlement around my casting than anything I've ever done,' Pascal said. ''He's too old. He's not right. He needs to shave.'' Acknowledging the fan reactions While reactions have been mixed, Pascal admitted the feedback has been louder than he expected. Still, he remains optimistic about the movie. 'I'm getting an inkling of excitement because it seems to reflect what our common goal was... all of our hearts on a platter within this genre,' he said, adding that one can never predict how people will respond emotionally. Pascal also revealed that joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe was a challenge, but he credited Robert Downey Jr. for helping him ease into it. 'Robert is just so immediately generous and inviting,' he shared, noting that the support allowed him to stay grounded during the transition. Building his version of Reed Richards Pascal described his approach to Reed Richards as rooted in intellect, not just superpowers. In an earlier interview with ComicBook, he said he was inspired by the intelligence of an octopus—not literally, but as a subconscious guide to shape the character. Despite the skepticism from some fans, Pascal is set to lead Marvel's reboot of the superhero team alongside Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. The film, directed by Matt Shakman and produced by Kevin Feige, also features Ralph Ineson as Galactus and Julia Garner as Silver Surfer. Looking ahead in the Marvel Universe Fantastic Four: First Steps is scheduled to release on July 25, marking the group's debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film will be followed by Avengers: Doomsday, where Pascal and the rest of the cast are set to return. Pascal's calm and clear response shows that while he's heard the criticism, he is focused on delivering a performance that respects the character and the franchise. Whether audiences embrace his take on Reed Richards will become clear once the film hits theaters.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Downey praises Pedro Pascal's Hollywood journey
In a recent Vanity Fair interview, Robert Downey Jr. lauded co-star Pedro Pascal for his 'slow trajectory to becoming a household name,' calling it a reaffirmation of his faith in Hollywood. Downey reflected on Pascal's journey, emphasizing its authenticity in an industry increasingly driven by instant virality. Pascal, who gained global prominence with lead roles in The Mandalorian and The Last of Us, is currently cast as Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) in the upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps. He is set to join Downey in Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for a December 18, 2026 release. Pascal admitted during an interview that he'd faced backlash over his age, appearance, and casting—but said Downey's support helped him feel 'seen and safe' amid industry skepticism. Downey specifically called Pascal's success 'a wildly hot streak' that reinforced his confidence in how the entertainment business continues to reward dedication. Pascal himself expressed gratitude for Downey's mentorship. In Vanity Fair, he credited Downey with making him feel welcomed and steady in high-pressure environments, saying the veteran actor's warmth allowed him 'to be afraid, hungry, or ambivalent' without pressure. Avengers: Doomsday will merge the Avengers, Wakandans, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and New Avengers to confront Doctor Doom, portrayed by Downey. The interconnected MCU project follows Fantastic Four: First Steps, which debuts July 25, 2025. Downey's praise of Pascal comes at a moment when many actors are spotlighted for rapid success, making Pascal's story of perseverance stand out.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pedro Pascal wanted to quit acting. His community didn't let him.
If you feel like Pedro Pascal is everywhere right now, it's because he kind of is. This week, the 50-year-old star of such critically acclaimed shows as "The Last of Us" and 'The Mandalorian' — as well as the buzzy new A24 film "Materialists" — appeared on the cover of the July/August issue of Vanity Fair. In a heartfelt interview with contributor Karen Valby, he attributed his success as an actor to the assistance he took from 'angels around him": his friends, family and even his late pit bull mix, Gretta, whom he grieved before his big break. 'In my 30s I was supposed to have a career,' Pascal said to Vanity Fair. 'Past 29 without a career meant that it was over, definitely.' After the death of his mom Veronica, who died tragically by suicide, the Chilean American, then 24, worked in restaurants and bars while trying to make it as an actor. Pascal often contemplated changing his career but was urged by his oldest sister, Javiera Balmaceda, to stay on course. 'When Pedro would say, 'I'm going to nursing school' or 'I'm going to be a theater teacher,' it was just like 'No, no, no, no! You're too good!'' Balmaceda said. 'The one thing we'd never allow Pedro to do was give up,' she added. During this time, his friends would buy him groceries, Balmaceda would give him money to make it through the week, and his college friend, actor Sarah Paulson, would let him use her sister's car and give him her per diem money from her performing jobs. Pascal also credited his dog with giving him the excitement he was missing. '[Gretta] saved my life, that dog, because she gave me someone to go home to,' he said. This year, the award-winning actor reprised his role as Joel Miller in the second season of HBO's hit series 'The Last of Us' and starred in Celine Song's romance film 'Materialists,' where he plays Harry Castillo, a desirable bachelor. Pascal will cap off his packed summer by appearing alongside Joaquin Phoenix in Ari Aster's western 'Eddington' and entering the Marvel cinematic universe as Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic, in 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' sharing the screen with Vanessa Kirby. Get our Latinx Files newsletter for stories that capture the complexity of our communities. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Pedro Pascal wanted to quit acting. His community didn't let him.
If you feel like Pedro Pascal is everywhere right now, it's because he kind of is. This week, the 50-year-old star of such critically-acclaimed shows as 'The Last of Us' and 'The Mandalorian' — as well as the buzzy new A24 film 'Materialists' — appeared on the cover of the July/August issue of Vanity Fair. In a heartfelt interview with contributor Karen Valby, he attributed his success as an actor to the assistance he took from 'angels around him': his friends, family and even his late pit bull mix, Gretta, whom he grieved before his big break. 'In my 30s I was supposed to have a career,' Pascal said to Vanity Fair. 'Past 29 without a career meant that it was over, definitely.' After the death of his mom Veronica, who died tragically by suicide, the Chilean American, then 24, worked in restaurants and bars while trying to make it as an actor. Pascal often contemplated changing his career but was urged by his oldest sister, Javiera Balmaceda, to stay on course. 'When Pedro would say, 'I'm going to nursing school' or 'I'm going to be a theater teacher,' it was just like 'No, no, no, no! You're too good!'' Balmaceda said. 'The one thing we'd never allow Pedro to do was give up,' she added. During this time, his friends would buy him groceries, Balmaceda would give him money to make it through the week, and his college friend, actress Sarah Paulson, would let him use her sister's car and give him her per diem money from her performing jobs. Pascal also credited his dog with giving him the excitement he was missing. '[Gretta] saved my life, that dog, because she gave me someone to go home to,' he said. This year, the award-winning actor reprised his role as Joel Miller in the second season of the HBO's hit series 'The Last of Us' and starred in Celine Song's romance film 'Materialists,' where he plays Harry Castillo, a desirable bachelor. Pascal will cap off his packed summer by appearing alongside Joaquin Phoenix in Ari Aster's western 'Eddington' and entering the Marvel cinematic universe as Reed Richards, also known as Mister Fantastic, in 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' sharing the screen with Vanessa Kirby.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
These 23 Behind-The-Scenes Facts From The Star Wars TV Shows Will Make You Look At A Galaxy Far, Far Away In A New Light
Star Wars has always been a master on the big screen, and it has found its place in TV series, too. Smaller screen, but equally big behind-the-scenes fun facts that prove movie magic is still alive and well. Here are 26 behind-the-scenes facts from the Star Wars TV shows that are incredibly interesting: Andor, the entire town of Ferrix feels very tangible and real. Well, compared to other sets in the Star Wars universe, the whole city of Ferrix was built from scratch. Andor, the showrunners displayed an array of Easter eggs in Luthen's shop, including the Sankara Stones from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. droid character Huyang, who appears in both Ahsoka and The Clone Wars, is voiced by actor and the Tenth Doctor in Doctor Who, David Tennant. Disney+, Eamonn M. McCormack / Getty Images the Book of Boba Fett, actor Temuera Morrison brought his Maori heritage to the role in an interesting way. He drew inspiration from the traditional Maori dance, the Haka, for his training and fighting style with his Gaffi Stick. Rodriguez plays the Trandoshan that delivers the wookie pelt in the first episode of The Book of Boba Fett. He is also the show's executive producer and director. about Darth Plagueis became uncanonized with Disney's purchase of Star Wars, but The Acolyte showrunner Leslye Headland used the Legends (now non-canonical) novel "Darth Plagueis" as a reference. So, the Sith Lord is still an alien Muun like the original. Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen filmed flashback scenes while wearing dots on their faces for the "de-aging" special effects. Kenobi series is a rare example of Director Deborah Chow serving as the sole director for the project. It was only six episodes, but it's still uncommon in most Star Wars TV projects — and honestly, TV in general. aka "Baby Yoda", required up to four people to make him work. That's a lot of hands to bring all that cuteness to life. animation was used for a shot of the Blurrg in Season 1 of The Mandalorian. Other scenes used a blend of practical effects and CG. the beautifully crafted BTS special, Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian, it was revealed that The Mandalorian was meticulously planned with pre-visualization before ENTIRE show. It's almost like taking time and love to prep a story pays off. Ludwig Göransson can thank Director Ryan Coogler and Lando actor Donald Glover (Solo) for the recommendation. After working with Glover closely in shows like Atlanta, Mando showrunner Jon Faveru was suggested to hire Göransson. What followed was the most iconic Star Wars score made by someone not named John Williams. to ScreenRant, five different stuntmen stepped in for Mando stunts throughout the show's first season. This really made the hero of the story appear to be a natural in all the different phases of his skills. dark saber was a practical effect. Actor Giancarlo Esposito was so intense with the legendary blade that it required multiple props after he kept breaking them. Try a stress ball, Moff Gideon! the show Ahsoka, we got to see one of the coolest ship designs in the Disney+ era. Ahsoka's T-6 shuttle was a model brought to life by ILM and frequently used in filming. Star Wars Rebels, the name of the "Bendu" character was pulled from George Lucas' original work, where he refers to Jedi Knights as "Jedi Bendu". Star Wars Rebels "skinny lightsaber" design was an attempt to emulate the skinniness of the lightsabers in the original trilogy and the artwork done by the G.O.A.T. conceptual designer, Ralph McQuarrie. Grand Inquisitor, played by Rupert Friend in the Obi-Wan Kenobi show, required a four-hour makeup process. I'd turn to the dark side, too, if I had to wake up before dawn to sit in a chair for hours while someone covers my entire face with makeup and prosthetics. makeup effects used for Cad Bane in The Book of Boba Fett actually allow for lip movement from the actor, which is pretty wild and looks outstanding in the final product. But I'm sure some fans were too hyper-focused on the skin coloring to care. Shocker. Child was simply called 'Baby' on set for the first season of The Mandalorian. the French influence on the Ghor language in season 2 of Andor, dialect coach Marina Tyndall created the language from scratch. That's dedication to the cause! second season of Andor entailed the build of 140 sets, 24 filming locations, more than 700 costumes, the creation of 152 creatures and 30 droids, and well over 4,100 VFX shots supervised by ILM. finally, the martial arts in The Acolyte were some of the best fighting we have seen in the Disney-era Star Wars, and it checks out. They brought several martial arts styles to bring the fight scenes to a whole new level while blending them with light saber duels. What is your favorite Star Wars TV show? Comment below and why! Check out all the Star Wars shows here on Disney+.
