Robert Downey Jr. praises Pedro Pascal’s rise to fame, calling it inspiring as they join the next MCU phase as Doctor Doom and Mr. Fantastic.
Robert Downey Jr. is singing the praises of fellow actor Pedro Pascal, calling his rise to stardom an inspiration to Hollywood.
Both actors are now part of the next Phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), with Pascal playing Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and Downey making a dramatic return to Marvel as the iconic villain Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday.
While it’s unclear if their characters will face off in First Steps, Downey made it clear in a Vanity Fair interview that Pascal’s journey is something special.
“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 said.
Pascal has been everywhere lately—from hit series like The Last of Us and The Mandalorian to films like Materialists and Eddington.
He’s also been participating in MCU cast bonding, with Downey reportedly hosting “‘Avengers’ cast homework days” at his home.
Though Pascal admitted feeling nervous about joining the MCU—especially with criticism over his casting—he says Downey helped ease his fears.
“He’s just so immediately generous and inviting,” Pascal shared. “You feel like you can be afraid, you can be hungry, you can be ambivalent.”
Pascal’s Fantastic Four co-star Vanessa Kirby also praised him, saying he brings “immense vulnerability” to his acting, showing his true self without hiding behind a persona.
Even filmmaker Spike Jonze, who worked with Pascal on an Apple ad, summed up the actor’s appeal in a sentence: “I think that he’s what we want in masculinity.”
As Pascal’s star continues to rise and Downey returns to the MCU in a powerful new role, their friendship and collaboration could mark one of the most exciting dynamics in Marvel’s upcoming chapter.
