How Pedro Pascal Got Ripped For The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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Pedro Pascal is currently one of the busiest actors in Hollywood. In 2025, he can be seen in Season 2 of “The Last of Us”, as well as in “Materialists” and “Eddington”. Moreover, he’s set to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Reed Richards, aka Mister Fantastic, in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”. This role will later see him leading the Avengers in “Avengers: Doomsday”, and it remains to be seen where his journey within the MCU will lead him next.

Indeed, starring as a leading character in the Marvel universe isn’t just about showing up on set and delivering lines. Instead, it requires extensive preparation to make it seem like the actors can perform extraordinary feats convincingly. For instance, Chris Hemsworth bulkied up by consuming large amounts of protein to portray Thor, while Brie Larson focused on jump training to embody Captain Marvel. Each actor’s routine is unique; for Pascal, he sought help from an old acquaintance in preparing for his Marvel debut.

In this conversation, I chatted with Jason Walsh, a coach at Rise Movement in West Hollywood, California, who has previously trained celebrities like Pascal. Our discussion revolved around techniques used to help Pascal achieve his Marvel physique and the most valuable asset he acquired – self-confidence. It may seem cliché, but when you’re taking on the role of Mister Fantastic with his elastic abilities, it’s crucial to carry yourself with conviction.

Working around Pedro Pascal’s injury

Pedro Pascal and Jason Walsh have known each other for quite some time: It was during the filming of “The Great Wall” that Walsh trained Matt Damon and happened to meet and bond with Pascal. Despite “The Great Wall” being considered one of Damon’s less successful films, the friendship between Walsh and Pascal blossomed as a result. Since their bond had been forged, it was only natural for Pascal to rely on Walsh when he had a major superhero movie lined up. Although Pascal has always seemed fit, there was one significant challenge they had to overcome during preparation.

During the awards season of 2024, Pascal was often seen with an arm sling, following an apparent fall. According to Walsh, Pascal had suffered a dislocated collarbone, a fractured shoulder blade, and issues with his tendons, which presented him with a tough decision: undergo surgery that could sideline him for some time or attempt natural healing. Pascal decided on the latter approach, as expressed by Walsh to Looper: “We didn’t push him too hard at first. Our goal was to get him mentally prepared and ensure he believed in the possibility of recovery and restoring his body.

After making all significant movements, Walsh stated, “We’re now at a stage where we’ve made most of the key adjustments.” For Pascal, this healing process has been largely pain-free, stable, and strong. Avoiding surgery was not the best choice for everyone, but in Pascal’s case, they managed to recover without it, restoring his arm to its fighting condition.

What did Pedro Pascal’s workouts entail?

It might initially seem that Pedro Pascal’s fitness routine primarily focused on yoga or flexibility exercises. However, Jason Walsh, who designed the workout plan, never considered making Pascal more elastic to portray the character, as he stated: “To be completely honest, not even once did I think about training for this specific role in terms of making him stretchy.” Regarding Reed Richards’ powers, they will be presented through CGI, but it’s possible that some flexibility training might have been beneficial.

Because of his injury, Pascal started his workouts at a disadvantage compared to other clients. Given Walsh’s expertise in strength training, they emphasized the basics with Pascal and built his confidence that he could indeed handle the workout requirements. This included having Pascal perform exercises like lunges again, despite him having already mastered them a few weeks back, merely to prove he was still capable. The workouts primarily focused on rebuilding both Pascal’s physical strength and belief in himself.

Regarding nutrition, Walsh has developed his unique product – RISE311 protein – which is plant-based, offering gentler digestion. This fact has been endorsed by Pascal himself on social media platforms, particularly Instagram, where he shared a video of him enjoying a RISE311 protein shake and describing it as “tasty.

How Pedro Pascal got his groove back

During Looper’s chat with Jason Walsh, it emerged that training Pedro Pascal for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” wasn’t just about making an already fit man even more so. Instead, it involved helping a recovering injury patient regain confidence to handle the numerous stunts typical of a Marvel character. Although CGI and stand-ins were options, Pascal had to perform many stunts himself. Additionally, there was extensive use of wire work due to multiple scenes being set in space.

What I’m proudest of, I believe, is helping him regain confidence in his physical abilities,” Walsh said. “Helping him move past the pain, where he recognizes that things may not always be as they seemed.

“During my adventure on ‘The Last of Us’, diet played a significant role. Walsh noted that I shed approximately 25 pounds from Seasons 1 to 2. Letting go of some indulgences, comfort foods, and habits that once made me feel good but no longer did, and adopting new ones was challenging, as you might imagine – it’s tough to change human nature. But I’m proud to say I’ve made progress, and I can’t wait to see where this fitness journey takes me next, especially in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’, and beyond in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”

Getting Pedro Pascal ready for Avengers: Doomsday

As a die-hard fan of Pedro Pascal, I must say that despite his extensive background in action-packed roles like “Gladiator II” and “The Last of Us,” the possibility of an injury looming over his preparation for “Fantastic Four: First Steps” was a concern. However, he dedicated himself to rigorous training under Jason Walsh, ensuring he’d be in peak form. And luckily, no further injuries occurred during filming, as Walsh confirmed, “We managed to complete the entire movie without any injuries.” Following the wrap of “Fantastic Four” last year, we witnessed some reshoots earlier this year, and then Pascal seamlessly moved on to “Avengers,” which is nothing short of exciting!

After establishing their base and refreshing the basics, they can maintain the pace as they approach “Avengers: Doomsday” and “Avengers: Secret Wars”. A new “Fantastic Four” film might join the lineup if Marvel Studios decides to make one. However, it seems like Pascal and Walsh’s collaboration will persist, with Walsh expressing high praise for the actor. According to Walsh, “I feel fortunate to have him in my life; he’s been a wonderful friend.” He further added, “He’s just an exceptional individual – kind-hearted, supportive, and understanding.

“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” comes out in theaters on July 25. 

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2025-07-18 00:31