If it feels like Pedro Pascal is inescapable, that’s because he is. But we shouldn’t be surprised.
Since earning the title of the “internet’s daddy” in 2023, thanks to his portrayal of brooding father figure Joel on the first season of The Last of Us, the actor has continued to mesmerize Hollywood. Now a beloved and bonafide A-lister, Pascal is booked and busy — and his recent press appearances and upcoming theatrical releases are proof.
The latest development in Pascal’s ever-growing slate of upcoming projects was revealed on Friday at the Star Wars Celebration. Pascal, who starred on Disney+’s Star Wars spinoff series The Mandalorian from 2019 to 2023, attended the event held in Tokyo. In front of more than 100,000 members of the Star Wars fandom, Pascal discussed the upcoming Lucasfilm release, The Mandalorian & Grogu, in which he stars alongside Sigourney Weaver.
In addition to announcing the film’s theatrical release date of May 22, 2026, Pascal and his collaborators teased a first look at the project, which will mark the first Star Wars theatrical release in seven years. The actor, while talking to Extra TV on Friday, called the upcoming flick “one of the greatest adventure movies in the canon of all cinema.”
Pedro Pascal and Sigourney Weaver during Star Wars Celebration in Japan. (Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images for Disney)
New details about The Mandalorian & Grogu emerged just four days after the Season 2 premiere of HBO’s hit drama The Last of Us, also starring Pascal, hit the streamer. The second season premiere drew 5.3 million viewers across platforms — a 13% increase from the series premiere in 2023.
Fans can expect to see even more of Pascal this summer. With three theatrical releases scheduled between the months of June and July — Materialists, Eddington and The Fantastic Four: First Steps — that’ll further demonstrate his range as an actor, Pascal won’t be shedding his internet’s daddy status anytime soon.
In Materialists, the latest A24 film from writer-director Celine Song, Pascal portrays Henry Castillo, a wealthy businessman who takes an interest in Lucy (Dakota Johnson), a charming matchmaker who has a habit of putting her career ahead of her own personal life. Sparks fly between the two, but their burgeoning connection is soon made complicated after Lucy reconnects with her bartender ex-boyfriend John (Chris Evans). The result? A messy love triangle that could jeopardize her career.
The romance film hits theaters on June 13. Pascal’s performance as a successful, romantic businessman — as seen in the two-minute trailer released last month — has sent fans into a frenzy online.
On the other side of the spectrum is the Western black comedy Eddington. Written and directed by filmmaker Ari Aster, the A24 film, which hits theaters on July 18, explores the rising tensions in a small American town amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. In the film, Pascal stars opposite Joaquin Phoenix as Ted Garcia, the town’s coronavirus-conscious mayor who’s running for reelection.
A small-town standoff ensues when the local sheriff, Joe Cross (Phoenix), decides to run for mayor after he refuses to wear a face mask at a local grocery store. Austin Butler and Emma Stone also star in the film.
Pascal will round out his summer of theatrical releases with The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Coming to theaters on July 25, the latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe will feature Pascal as Reed Richards, also known as Mr. Fantastic. From director Matt Shakman, the film offers a fresh take on the legendary quartet as they defend Earth from the threats of Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm round out the team of superheroes.
If all that weren’t enough, the Game of Thrones alum starred in the viral AirPods 4 commercial directed by Spike Jonze, which debuted last month. Clocking in at five-and-a-half minutes, the short film titled Someday sees Pascal using Active Noise Cancellation on his AirPods 4 to cope with a recent breakup. Suddenly, his dreary reality is transformed into a colorful dreamscape as Pascal dances his way through the city.
With more than 40 million views on YouTube, the short film has even spawned a TikTok dance trend, as people have flocked to the app to recreate Pascal’s joyous dance number.
That Pascal is primed to have one of his best years yet should come as no surprise. Having put in the work for the last three decades, he’s due for a blockbuster summer.
