Pedro Pascal is one of the most exceptionally gifted actors of our time. It’s a fact at this point that his range knows no bounds, and there’s genuinely no role he can’t take on with stunning nuances and grace. While he’s quite busy these days as a new addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Mr. Fantastic in Fantastic Four, we’re now also just itching to see him cast in a romance, especially after his appearance at the 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards.
And sure, Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) is technically a husband, but he’s most definitely not the type of romance hero we have in mind. He’s not a George Russell “My Wife” type of guy, and that’s the kind of role we need to see Pascal in—some place where he could be both vulnerable and bold. The mass success of Bridgerton maintains proof that the world is ready for more adaptations, historicals especially, and since Pascal is no stranger to a version of it, thanks to his role as Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones, he’d be the perfect fit. He also deserves to be in a role where his character isn’t going to die brutally or where he doesn’t have to suffer consistently.
Okay, technically, he can brood and mope around for a bit; we’ll take that much, so long as when his character falls in love, he’s the falls-hard type. Pedro Pascal, as a romantic lead, could also lead more skeptical people to draw closer to the genre as fans of the actor, allowing more adaptations to come to our screens. (Hey, it’s why I gave The Last of Us a chance.)
Ultimately, this isn’t about objectifying Pascal’s gloriously gorgeous looks (and the perfect, spellbinding hair and smile), but it’s about the warmth and charm he wears on his sleeves to every award show and in every interview. Pedro Pascal is the kind of person who leaves Twitter because a horrible human being took over, and he no longer wants to be a part of it. He’s the type of actor who consistently uses his platform to speak up on what matters, adding support and attention to parts of the world that the news isn’t covering.
And apart from being an actor who’s so universally effortless to adore, it all comes back to his range and the detail that in any role he takes on, he embodies the character in such a way where we aren’t thinking of him in other positions. I first knew him as Juan Badillo in Graceland, but when he appears on Game of Thrones, that role doesn’t come to mind while I’m watching. The same can be said about every role he takes on, showcasing that there’s no emotion the actor can’t convey and no type of character he can’t embody.
Apart from ending happily with both characters in the couple surviving, what often makes a romance stand out is the amount of vulnerability men are allowed to express. They’re softer, more gentle, even when there’s a gruffness to them, and that level of vulnerability digs into dismantling toxic masculinity, which Pedro Pascal would be undeniably sensational at conveying. Plus, we rarely see couples in their forties get the chance at happy endings, and it’s high time that changed.
First Featured Image Credit: ©HBO via Variety.