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With Marvel deep into its Multiverse Saga and fans split between nostalgia and fatigue, the MCU finds itself at a strange crossroads. The Infinity Saga was lightning in a bottle — a carefully layered story that spanned over decades, building toward an emotional crescendo in Avengers: Endgame. But since then, things have not exactly been marvelous for Marvel.
New heroes have entered, timelines have splintered, and the multiverse has cracked wide open, leaving audiences unsure of what the MCU is building toward. Some pointed out instances of lazy casting and mismatched heroes, while the old ones that have returned seem to have lost the grandeur that they once held. The stakes are higher than ever, but the emotional core feels scattered. Is Marvel losing it's touch? Not yet, though it came pretty close. But there's a new savior now that could spin things around and return the glory and majesty that the studio deserves.
In the middle of this identity crisis, Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards might be the narrative glue we didn’t know we needed. Not only is he stepping in as the leader of Marvel’s First Family - the Fantastic Four - but he also has the potential to become the moral and strategic center of the universe itself. Before we dive deeper into why Pascal's casting might be one of the best things Marvel has done in recent years, here's a look into why the MCU has been faltering lately and why even Robert Downey Jr's casting as Doctor Doom could not have possibly saved the studio from sharp decline.
Marvel's slow progress post Avengers: Endgame
Marvel saw peak success during it's Avengers era, especially with the last two films that brought the ensemble together and gave Marvel two of it's biggest movies till date- Endgame and Infinity War, with the former becoming the second biggest film in the history of cinema, garnering over 2.5 billions. It was a superior feat for any comic studio- something that DC has yet to achieve even now. The success Marvel had during this time was unparalleled, and after that, it all went downhill.
With the exception of Tom Holland's Spider-Man movies and the mild success that projects like Wanda Vision and Loki accomplished, it seemed like the studio was running out of original ideas and came up with films with predictable plotlines that generated nowhere as much of the excitement that the previous phases brought to fans.
Surely, the financial gains were there. It's unlikely for Marvel films to perform poorly at the box office, considering it's large fan following. A spin-off on Druig would also probably garner a large number of movie-goers, but it was apparent that the studio was slowly losing it's touch.
Why Marvel faced a stark decline after Infinity Saga
A more logical reason we can pinpoint to for Marvel's slow decline could be that all of the studio's projects or major powers literally came to an end after the last Avengers movies. It's worth noting that the premise of both these movies were the culmination of over twenty films that came before, as all the plotlines led to this exact scenario. It was highly unlikely for Marvel to spin up that same charm again, and even if it did, it would probably take a few or more decades.
Another significant factor was Marvel's deal with Disney+ which led to the studio putting a lot of focus on mini limited series and spin-offs. Moreover, fans failed to feel attached to a lot of the new characters, as compared to the loyalty fans felt to the ensemble of Tony Stark, Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff. Amidst all this, Marvel's decision to bring back Robert Downey Jr to the screen seemed like an attempt to restore that grandeur back, but quite feebly so.
Downey's casting feels lazy and a poor decision to try and hope that his stardom and fanbase converts into success for the studio. Many fans have called this decision out, especially given his age and the years he has already given to the MCU. Others argued how his resemblance to one of the greatest heroes in the world would impact Doom's story and of course, for many of us it is difficult to look at Robert and imagine him being anyone else but Iron Man; the man was made for the role.
Amidst all this nonfeasance, the studio seems to have aimed for one thing right- the casting of Pedro Pascal as Richard Reeds in the MCU. As Marvel continues to drown in mediocrity, here's how Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards could be the lifeboat the studio needs.
Why I think Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards could be Marvel's redemption arc in Avengers Doomsday
Pedro Pascal could very well be the leader Marvel deserves after all the past debacles. Anthony Mackie's Captain America in his debut as the captain proved he was highly unlikely to bring back the splendor or the chokehold Steve Rogers had on the team, or the studio itself. Carol Denvers' Captain Marvel was proven to be quite unpopular among fans. Doctor Strange is too busy with his Multiverses and saving the world one at a time. At a time like this, us fans were fed with newer ounces of faith- all thanks to Pedro Pascal's Reed Richards.
Pascal is already known to be a hero when it comes to leading franchises, look at The Mandalorian and The Last Of Us. Looking at his reign as a franchise leader, he could possibly be the best decision the studio has taken in recent years.
As for the character, Reed Richards has always been more than just Marvel’s smartest man. In the comics, he’s a strategist, a leader, a father, and a futurist — someone who sees the bigger picture even when the universe is on the verge of collapse. In a franchise currently weighed down by tonal shifts, character overload, and an uncertain villain arc, Reed could be the narrative anchor we’ve been waiting for. He’s not just the smartest man alive — he might be the smartest move Marvel has left.
Let’s also not ignore the title — Avengers: Doomsday. Whether it leads into Secret Wars or pivots toward a Doctor Doom-centric arc, Reed is key in either direction. His rivalry with Victor Von Doom is one of the most iconic in Marvel lore, not just because of their clashing intellects, but because of their drastically different philosophies. Reed builds to protect; Doom builds to control. That dynamic alone has the potential to redefine Marvel’s narrative tone — darker, more mature, and far more personal.
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With that being said, I am excited to see what Reeds brings to the MCU and how well it's received. The sixth phase gives Marvel a newer chance to restore it's dominance once again. In a universe splintered by timelines and fractured loyalties, Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards might just be the thread that stitches it all back together — not just saving the multiverse, but redefining what it means to be a Marvel hero.
Fantastic Four: First Steps will be in theaters on July 25, 2025.
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