Pedro Pascal made headlines and sent fans into a frenzy after making a surprise appearance on the red carpet last night.
Pascal, a household name thanks to his standout roles in The Mandalorian and The Last of Us, continues to captivate audiences across both streaming and cinematic landscapes. The Chilean-American actor, who’s built a loyal fanbase with his on-screen magnetism, is set to enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Reed Richards—also known as Mister Fantastic—in Matt Shakman’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025).
While the actor frequently dominates the pop culture conversation due to his packed filming slate, his performance in the latest episode of HBO’s The Last of Us—which adapts the acclaimed Naughty Dog video game—sparked intense discussion. In “Through the Valley,” his character Joel’s emotional confrontation with Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) turned heads, but it was Pascal’s red carpet appearance that became the week’s most talked-about moment.
The buzz began at the European premiere of Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* (2025) in London. The star-studded event featured appearances by Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, all celebrating the upcoming ensemble film. But it was Fantastic Four lead Pedro Pascal who caught everyone off guard when he appeared at the event.
Pascal’s fashion choice quickly ignited conversation online. Eschewing the typical red carpet formality, he opted for a laid-back look featuring a baseball cap and a white T-shirt—though it was the shirt’s message that drew the most attention.
The shirt read “Protect the Dolls”—a nod to terminology embraced within the transgender community. Designed by Connor Ives, the piece made its debut during London Fashion Week in February 2025. Pascal’s decision to wear the shirt publicly comes in the wake of a controversial Supreme Court decision in the United Kingdom.
“The Supreme Court has ruled that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex, in a decision which could have far-reaching implications for who can access single-sex services and spaces,” the BBC reported last week. The ruling, supported by “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling, has sparked global discourse around transgender rights.
Speaking with The New York Times, designer Connor Ives detailed the creation of the shirt. “It was very reactive. I knew I wanted to say something, given what we’ve observed in the last few months with the U.S. government and the current political regime.”
Pascal, who has previously been spotted wearing the shirt, has a personal connection to the cause—his sister, Lux Pascal, came out as a transgender woman in February 2021.
A photo of Pascal smiling at the Thunderbolts* premiere was posted by Variety (@variety), captioned:
Pedro Pascal supports trans rights at the #Thunderbolts premiere in London by wearing a “Protect the Dolls” shirt.
His appearance quickly went viral across X, Instagram, and TikTok, with many applauding the statement.
Though it’s unclear if Pascal will appear in Thunderbolts*, fans won’t have to wait long to see him suit up in the MCU. He’ll headline The Fantastic Four: First Steps alongside Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm/Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm/Human Torch), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm/The Thing) when the film hits theaters on July 25, 2025.
As for the Thunderbolts* roster, the film arrives May 2, 2025, and wraps up Phase Five with a bang. The lineup includes Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Hannah John-Kamen as Ghost, Olga Kurylenko as Taskmaster, Wyatt Russell as U.S. Agent, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Lewis Pullman will also debut as the powerful Sentry, known simply as “Bob.”
Following his Fantastic Four debut, Pascal is set for a blockbuster 2026 with two major releases in May: Avengers: Doomsday—directed by the Russo Brothers—and The Mandalorian and Grogu, which sees him return as Din Djarin under Jon Favreau’s direction.
What upcoming Pedro Pascal movie has you most excited? Let us know in the comments down below!
