Stepping into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps was a spine-tingling experience for Pedro Pascal, despite his impressive resume in blockbuster franchises.

The 50-year-old actor, known for iconic roles in Game of Thrones, The Mandalorian, and HBO’s The Last of Us, now faces his biggest challenge yet—leading one of Marvel’s most legendary superhero teams. But even with years of high-profile projects under his belt, Pascal admits that joining the MCU felt like stepping onto an entirely new battlefield.

"Every time I enter a massive franchise, I think it can’t get any scarier," he confessed in an interview with Collider. "Then it does. From Westeros to DC, from Star Wars to The Last of Us—each one felt like jumping into the unknown. But gaming especially hit me like an explosion. It opened my eyes to this incredible way of telling stories."

Despite the pressure, Pascal found comfort in his co-stars—Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm). Their camaraderie became his anchor amid the whirlwind expectations surrounding Marvel's first family.

"Being part of something this huge feels like standing at the peak," he said. "But that’s why you hold tight to your team—to these brilliant actors and filmmakers who know exactly what they're doing. It takes away some of that fear."

A Cosmic Leap Into Fear… And Fun

The Fantastic Four: First Steps follows four explorers who gain extraordinary abilities after a disastrous space mission gone wrong. As they struggle with their newfound powers, they must band together against an apocalyptic threat looming over Earth.

"It's intimidating," Pascal admitted earlier to Entertainment Weekly about playing Mr. Fantastic ."You want fans excited ,you want them happy .And you also need stay true yourself so story works its magic." He added ,"Whether Game Thrones or Narcos or Mandalorian —every role has been terrifyingly rewarding.This? This might be biggest yet." P >< P With film set release July anticipation continues build whether MCU newest chapter lives up legacy —and if Pedro can lead charge successfully only time tell but one thing certain :he ready face challenge head-on just like every before him . p > div >