Pedro Pascal is quickly becoming one of Hollywood’s biggest stars and most in-demand actors. This year alone has been remarkable for Pascal, beginning in April with his return as surrogate father figure Joel Miller in HBO’s The Last of Us season 2, a performance that earned him a second Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

This summer alone, Pascal has starred in two A24 movies, Celine Song’s romantic comedy Materialists and Ari Aster’s neo-Western Eddington. In his biggest role yet, Pascal made his MCU debut as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Pascal was actually set to star in another movie this summer, though he exited the role early in pre-production.

Zach Cregger Explains Why Pedro Pascal Exited Weapons

Director Zach Cregger explains why Pedro Pascal exited his new horror movie, Weapons. Written and directed by Cregger, who made his buzzy debut with Barbarian in 2022, his new horror film follows the sudden disappearance of 17 children from the same class at an elementary school, leaving their teacher and the rest of the community questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.

Weapons‘ cast originally included Pascal, who was cast in the role of Archer Graff, the father of one of the missing children, though he was eventually replaced by Josh Brolin. The ensemble cast also includes Julia Garner, Cary Christopher Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Benedict Wong, Amy Madigan, Toby Huss, June Diane Raphael, Whitmer Thomas, and Justin Long.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Zach Cregger explained why Pedro Pascal exited Weapons. The director says that the actors’ strike of 2023, in combination with Pascal’s busy schedule, caused him to “recast the entire movie.” Cregger confirmed that the original cast also included Brian Tyree Henry and Renate Reinsve.

However, their schedules were no longer in sync after the strike, particularly for Pascal, who had several high-profile projects occupying his time, including his commitment to Fantastic Four. Read Cregger’s full comments below:

I had a whole different cast for this movie. And then we had the strike, and then Pedro Pascal’s schedule threw us into turmoil. I had to recast the entire movie. This is what happens, right? The strikes delayed us, and then when you delay, people’s schedules get conflicts, and then you’re back at square one. I bear no ill will towards anybody. We just kept getting delayed and delayed. It’s like a domino effect. So I had to start over again.

What This Means For Weapons & Pedro Pascal

Pedro Pascal’s exit from Weapons worked out for everyone involved, as the actor was able to take on his biggest role yet in The Fantastic Four. Cregger was also able to replace him with an Oscar nominee in Josh Brolin, whose performance as a grief-stricken father has received much praise. Weapons‘ reviews rave about how his character’s blame-focused fervor gives the film emotional weight.

Critics claim Brolin’s performance anchors the film’s mystery with believable fury and subtle heart, making his presence a standout within the ensemble’s tense, character-driven drama. Though Pascal would have likely turned in an equally strong performance in Weapons, his departure allowed him to commit to the projects that are currently redefining his career.

Source: EW