This post has been updated from a previously published version.

BURBANK, CA–A groundbreaking study based on empirical evidence has established a conclusive link between actor Pedro Pascal and the reviving of tired, washed-out franchises. The study was based on data from the past five years, in which Pascal has starred in The Mandalorian, arguably the best thing to happen to Star Wars since the original trilogy. In 2020, Warner Bros. also made an effort to revive the lackluster DC Extended Universe by casting Pascal in Wonder Woman 1984. Now, Marvel is employing the same strategy by casting Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic in the past-its-prime Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Sources report that, in light of declining ratings on many recent MCU movies and shows, Marvel executives met to vote on whether or not to cast Pascal. Pascal’s agent attended the meeting and assured executives that “if you vote for Pedro, then all of your wildest dreams will come true”–after which he performed an unexpected but unique dance number. The vote was unanimously in Pascal’s favor.

Putting the actor into a tired franchise to revive it–a move which experts have termed “Pascal’s Wager”–has been attempted before, such as in Star Wars, the DCEU, and the latter portion of the CBS series The Mentalist. Marvel executives are fully convinced that This Is The Way for them to go.

But merely casting Pascal isn’t the only cue Marvel is taking from The Mandalorian. The rumor mill suggests that Fantastic Four will reimagine the comic book character Franklin Richards as a green alien baby, and much of the film’s plot will revolve around Reed protecting his son on their journeys through space.

Should Marvel’s efforts be successful, Pascal is also expected to be cast in several other tired franchises in desperate need of reviving. At this rate, scholars project he will likely lend his talents for playing protective father figures to the franchises of X-Men, Terminator, Pirates of the Caribbean, and all of the Walking Dead spin-offs.

Fantastic Four releases in 2025.