What's Inside?
- Pedro Pascal confirms Reed Richards won’t lead 'Avengers: Doomsday,' clarifying viral quotes were based on comic book interpretations.
- Director Matt Shakman says his comments about Reed leading the Avengers were misunderstood and referred only to comic storylines.
- 'Avengers: Doomsday' features a massive ensemble cast with Doctor Doom as the main villain and multiple teams sharing the spotlight.
The buzz around Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards taking the reins of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in Avengers: Doomsday has fans excited. As The Fantastic Four: First Steps officially ushered Marvel’s First Family into the MCU, many expected Pascal’s Mister Fantastic to step into a leadership role. However, recent updates from both cast and creatives now suggest that while Reed may be important, he won’t be leading the charge.
Is Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards Set to Lead Avengers: Doomsday?
Pedro Pascal’s portrayal of Reed Richards made a strong impression in First Steps, setting up what many assumed would be a central role in Avengers: Doomsday. But despite early rumors and quotes pulled from director Matt Shakman’s interviews, those expectations may have been a bit premature.
In a new interview with the Associated Press, Pascal addressed the speculation head-on, “It’s big news to me, for one,” he said.
“I think Matt Shakman was doing an interview, and when he was speaking about Reed, there is something that happens within the comics, he’s sort of… drawn in by the Avengers family and asked to be put in a leadership position. But it is something that happens in the comics, it isn’t necessarily something that my character’s future entails.”
Pascal added for clarity:
“I’m being honest in that. I’m not even trying to avoid spoilers. I’m just saying, it’s a little bit of a… mislead.”
Shakman himself has since clarified that his previous comments were taken out of context. Speaking with Screen Rant, he explained:
“So I actually didn’t say that… The internet ran with it… I was talking about Reed Richards in the comic books and how Reed Richards is sometimes the cerebral scientist. Sometimes he’s off leading the Avengers, sometimes he’s a father, a husband, whatever.”
He emphasized that his statements were about the range of the character in the comics, not a specific role in Doomsday. “What he does in Avengers: Doomsday is not for me to talk about,” he said, leaving those decisions to the Russo Brothers, who are directing the ensemble event.
Avengers: Doomsday‘s Leading Spotlight Unknown, But Has A Packed Roster
According to a report by Variety, Reed Richards will have an “integral role” in Avengers: Doomsday, but Pascal “is not the centerpiece.” With so many characters and plotlines in motion, Doomsday is shaping up to be more of an ensemble film than a single-hero showcase like Endgame.
The cast is massive. The MCU veterans like Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Anthony Mackie (Captain America), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Letitia Wright (Shuri), and Paul Rudd (Ant-Man) are reportedly returning. Meanwhile, First Steps stars Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm) will also appear, alongside X-Men actors including Patrick Stewart, Kelsey Grammer, and Ian McKellen.
But the real game-changer? Robert Downey Jr. is back— not as Iron Man, but as Doctor Doom. Variety reports that Downey’s return comes with a hefty paycheck and a central role in the conflict, perhaps signaling a Thanos-style villain arc for Doom (perhaps bigger than the Mad Titan).
One key clue lies in the First Steps post-credits scene. In it, Doctor Doom takes a sinister interest in Reed and Sue’s son, Franklin Richards, hinting at a kidnapping plot that could ripple into Doomsday. While that gives the Fantastic Four personal stakes in the film, it doesn’t guarantee center stage.
In fact, Marvel Studios is reportedly still working on the script, meaning even some actors aren’t sure of their final screen time.
Avengers: Doomsday — Release Date, Star-Studded Cast, Plot Details, and Everything We Know So Far
Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18, 2026. Doctor Doom is now positioned as the franchise’s next big bad.
Directed by the Russo Brothers and written by Stephen McFeely, Doomsday promises high stakes, familiar faces, and multiverse-bending action.
So far, Marvel has kept most plot details under wraps, but leaks and casting news paint a chaotic picture: multiple Avengers teams, alternate realities, returning X-Men, and Doctor Doom orchestrating chaos from the shadows.
