The Fantastic Four are back on the big screen for the first time in a decade. With the team introduced into MCU for the first time, many are looking forward to the role they’ll play going forward, even including their importance with The Avengers. 

Given top billing for The Fantastic Four: First Steps is none other than Pedro Pascal playing Reed Richards. Known more commonly under his Mister Fantastic alias, Reed is considered one of the top minds of the Marvel universe, and serves as a strong and effective leader for the Fantastic Four. 

Pascal, as well as his castmates, is also among those confirmed to be appearing in Avengers: Doomsday, where they’ll take on Doctor Doom. When discussing the role of Mister Fantastic, and how Pascal fit it, director Matt Shakman elaborated on just how Mister Fantastic was intended to operate when crafting the story. 

He said that Reed would go from a reclusive scientist “to the husband and the father who’d do anything to protect his family, to the guy who’s leading the Avengers.” After telling that to Variety, however, fans misconstrued just exactly what he meant by it. 

Although working alongside The Avengers before in the comics, as well as joining them circa 1989 and even being offered leadership, Richards has never been a full-fledged leader of the team before. But with Shakman’s interview, many thought that he would be the leader going forward. Pascal himself, however, debunked that concept. 

Speaking to Associated Press, he  acknowledged the time where Reed was offered the leadership job on the pages, but that’s not what’s lined up for the big screen. 

“I am being honest in that. I am not even trying to avoid spoilers. It’s a little bit of a mislead,” he said, as Variety reports. 

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now playing in theaters.