Pedro Pascal may be known for his rugged charm and iconic moustache, but there’s one role that made him swear off the clean-shaven look for good: his turn as Maxwell Lord in Wonder Woman 1984.
In a recent interview alongside Fantastic Four co-star Vanessa Kirby, Pascal opened up about his strong preference for facial hair. When asked to weigh in on what’s sexier, moustaches or beards, Pascal made it clear he’s no fan of the bare-faced look.
“I grow such shit facial hair, but if I were to shave it all off… I really look very [awful],” he admitted. “I was so appalled by the way I look in Wonder Woman 1984. I loved the movie, but I was so appalled by the way that I looked that I have never gone back unless it was completely necessary.”
Pascal portrayed the sleazy media mogul-turned-villain Maxwell Lord in Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman sequel, which released in 2020. It was a role that required a full departure from his now-signature facial hair, something he hasn’t repeated since.
“If they asked me to be clean-shaven for Fantastic Four and insisted, then I would’ve done it,” he said, clarifying that the look of Reed Richards, his character in the upcoming Marvel film, was shaped through “a very collaborative creation.”
Pascal’s moustachioed take on Mr. Fantastic hasn’t exactly pleased every comic book purist, with some fans expressing disappointment over the departure from the traditionally clean-shaven version of the character. The actor, who is no stranger to fan-heavy franchises like The Mandalorian and The Last of Us, is well aware of the backlash.
“I’m more aware of disgruntlement around my casting than anything I’ve ever done,” he previously told Vanity Fair. “He’s too old. He’s not right. He needs to shave,” Pascal said, recalling the chorus of online complaints.
While his time in the DC Universe ended with Wonder Woman 1984, Pascal is now firmly planted in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He’ll next reprise his role as Reed Richards in the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday, due out in 2026.
Marvel’s Fantastic Four is set to hit theatres on July 25, 2025.