Pedro Pascal, the near ubiquitous star of Disney’s The Mandalorian, Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II, Marvel’s upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps, and HBO’s The Last of Us, is once again making headlines, not for his acting, but for his divisive political commentary. In a move that left many in Hollywood and beyond shocked, Pascal publicly called for a boycott of another studio’s major property, echoing the kind of controversy that surrounded his fellow Disney actor Rachel Zegler and her ill-fated Snow White remake.
Pascal’s recent comments were aimed at Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling after she celebrated the recent U.K. Supreme Court ruling defining womanhood based on biological sex. Rowling’s social media celebration drew a sharp response from Pascal, who commented on an Instagram video urging a boycott of the entire Harry Potter franchise: “Awful disgusting SHIT is exactly right. Heinous LOSER behavior”. The video, posted by activist Tariq Raouf, went further, telling fans, “Don’t watch the show. Don’t go to Universal. Don’t buy a single Harry Potter thing ever. It’s time to tell these corporations that transphobia loses money”. Pascal’s public support to economically damage a rival studio’s property is highly unusual and, to many, in very poor taste.
This isn’t the first time Disney has faced fallout from a star’s outspoken politics. Rachel Zegler, who starred in the studio’s Snow White remake, also became a lightning rod for controversy with her political statements. The backlash was swift and severe: Snow White grossed just $143.1 million globally against a reported $350 million budget, earning poor scores from critics and audiences alike. Many have linked the film’s commercial failure directly to Zegler’s divisive public image and political rants. Coincidentally, Pascal has also publicly supported Zegler’s pro-Palestian posts on social media.
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And it isn’t the first time the Disney star has waded into identity politics. The actor shared an image just last month stating, “a world without trans people has never existed. And never will,” accompanied by another strong message supporting trans rights. And transgender politics aren’t the only divisive topics he weighs in on. Pascal has a history of politically charged social media posts without ever facing repercussions from Disney or Lucasfilm. In 2020, Pascal shared images comparing migrant children in U.S. border detention to Nazi concentration camps. He also posted about the Kyle Rittenhouse case, and compared Trump supporters to Nazis.
Now, with Fantastic Four: First Steps on the horizon, there are real concerns that Pascal’s actions could have a similar negative impact. The film is already facing stiff competition at the box office, with James Gunn’s Superman and a Jurassic World sequel drawing significant buzz and audience interest. In fact, early metrics show Fantastic Four trailing far behind its rivals in awareness and audience excitement. In this climate, any additional controversy—especially one as public and polarizing as Pascal’s—risks alienating a broad swath of moviegoers who might otherwise have shown up for a big Marvel tentpole.
For a leading man of a major Disney/Marvel release to be publicly urging audiences to boycott another studio’s property is, frankly, shocking. Such behavior undermines the collaborative spirit of the entertainment industry and distracts from the films themselves. While Pascal’s personal motivations may be rooted in family or conviction, the optics are undeniably bad for business, especially when the memory of Zegler’s box office woes is still fresh.
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As Hollywood continues to grapple with the impact of stars’ off-screen behavior, Pedro Pascal’s latest political outburst serves as a cautionary tale. Just as Rachel Zegler’s public persona became a liability for Snow White, Pascal’s divisive rhetoric and calls for boycotts of other studio productions threaten to overshadow Fantastic Four: First Steps and could ultimately hurt its box office prospects, far more than a gender swapped Silver Surfer, bad fan reactions, or a toned down Johnny Storm could.
For Disney and Marvel, the lesson is about to become very clear: when stars make headlines for the wrong reasons, everyone pays the price.
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