Pedro Pascal’s new movie, which has an 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes, marks a surprising career first for the star. After spending almost 20 years playing minor roles on television, the Chilean-American actor broke out as Oberyn Martell inGame of Thronesseason 4. From there, his role as Din Djarin inThe Mandalorianand Emmy-nominated performance as Joel in HBO’sThe Last of Uspropelled him to further fame and earned him a reputation for playing surrogate father figures.
ThoughPascal has already starredin big-budget movies likeWonder Woman 1984andGladiator II, he’s due for an even bigger breakout with his upcoming roles, beginning with his MCU debut as Reed Richards inThe Fantastic Four: First Stepsthis summer. He will also reprise his role as Din Djarin inThe Mandalorian and Grogumovie, releasing in May 2026. In addition to these blockbusters,Pascal stars in two A24 movies releasing in 2025– Celine Song’sMaterialistsand Ari Aster’sEddington.
Materialists Is Pedro Pascal’s First Rom-Com
The Movie Releases On June 13
After acting for 25 years,Materialistsmarks Pedro Pascal’s first romantic comedyof his career. Written and directed by Celine Song, who made her debut withPast Livesin 2023, the film follows Dakota Johnson as Lucy, a driven matchmaker in New York City who finds herself torn between her perfect match, Harry (played by Pedro Pascal), and her imperfect ex, John (Chris Evans).Materialists' castalso includes Zoë Winters, Marin Ireland, Dasha Nekrasova, Louisa Jacobson, Sawyer Spielberg, Eddie Cahill, Joseph Lee, and John Magaro.
It’s somewhat surprising that Pascal has never done a rom-com beforeMaterialists.He has all the qualities for being a great rom-com star– he’s clearly very charming, charismatic, and capable of doing comedy. InGame of Thrones, his promiscuousPrince Oberynhad sexual chemistry with just about anyone he locked eyes with. In turn, it’s great to see him finally doing a real rom-com, which will showcase a side of Pascal that we all know he has in him.
Materialists' Reviews Suggest Pascal Is A Rom-Com Natural
The Movie Has An 86% RT Score
Materialists' reviews, for the most part, are very positive, indicated by its 86% score on Rotten Tomatoes, which is a great sign for the movie.Critics are widely praising the film’s sharp twist on rom-com tropes, emotional depth, and modern approach to romance. Pete Hammond ofDeadlinecalls it “the best movie about the search for love in many years,” while Ross Bonaime ofColliderdeclares Song “the most impressive writer and director of modern love stories working today.” Several reviews highlight the movie’s thoughtful exploration of love in a modern materialistic world.
Among the enthusiastic praise,Pascal’s performance has been singled outby multiple critics.Zach Pope Reviewsdescribes him as “just amazing,” while Tessa Smith atThe Directsays that Pascal “steals the show” by “delivering a career-best performance.” These reviews reinforce thatMaterialistsis not just an engaging love story, but a showcase of an exceptional performance from Pascal.
Pedro Pascal Will Hopefully Keep Making Movies Like This
Not Necessarily Rom-Coms
Hopefully,Materialistsis just the beginning of Pascal opting for more grounded, character-driven projects alongside his blockbuster commitments. While some will find it exciting to see him suit up asReed Richards inAvengers: DoomsdayandSecret Wars,movies likeMaterialistsoffer Pascal the opportunities to play complex, vulnerable charactersin ways that superhero flicks rarely allow. Working with auteurs like Celine Song and Ari Aster will only deepen his already impressive range.
These types of projects give Pedro Pascal the creative freedom to break out of his “franchise dad” mold and showcase the kind of risk-taking performances that made audiences love him in the first place.
It’s not necessarily that Pascal should stick to rom-coms specifically, but rather that he should keep balancing his franchise work with daring, auteur-driven projects. Theupcoming A24 movieEddington, from Ari Aster, seems like another promising step in that direction. These types of projects givePedro Pascalthe creative freedom to break out of his “franchise dad” mold and showcase the kind of risk-taking performances that made audiences love him in the first place. His career needs that variety.
Materialistsreleases in theaters on June 13.
Pedro Pascal
Discover the latest news and filmography for Pedro Pascal, known for The Mandalorian and Game of Thrones.
Materialists
Cast
Materialists is a contemporary romantic drama centering on a young, ambitious New York City matchmaker. She navigates personal dilemmas as she becomes torn between a seemingly perfect match and her imperfect ex, exploring the complexities of love and ambition. Released in 2025, this film delves into modern relational dynamics.
