So, here’s the thing about Pedro Pascal. Before he was the "Internet’s Daddy" or surviving the cordyceps apocalypse in The Last of Us, he was basically just a guy in a cape trying to keep his sword steady. Honestly, if you look back at pedro pascal we can be heroes, you realize it wasn't just some random kids' movie he did for a paycheck. It was actually the first time we saw him play the "protective father" archetype that would eventually make him the most famous actor on the planet.
Robert Rodriguez, the guy who gave us Spy Kids, knew what he was doing when he cast Pascal as Marcus Moreno. Marcus isn't just any superhero; he's the leader of the Heroics, a master swordsman who uses magnetic force to keep his blades in check. But the real story isn't about the aliens or the superpowers. It’s about a retired hero who doesn't want his daughter, Missy, to follow in his dangerous footsteps. Sound familiar? It’s basically Joel Miller with more spandex and less trauma.
Why Pedro Pascal as Marcus Moreno Actually Matters
Most people treated We Can Be Heroes as a spiritual sequel to Sharkboy and Lavagirl. And yeah, it is. But for Pascal fans, it’s a weirdly important bridge in his career. Think about the timing. This came out on Netflix on Christmas Day in 2020. At that exact moment, The Mandalorian was peaking. People were just starting to get obsessed with the idea of Pedro Pascal protecting a small child.
In the movie, Marcus Moreno is trying to be a "regular" dad. He promised his daughter he wouldn’t go back to the superhero life because, frankly, it’s too risky. When the alien invasion happens, he has to break that promise. Watching Pascal play a guy who is genuinely terrified for his kid—while simultaneously slicing through alien robots—is kind of great. It’s a side of him that’s way softer than Oberyn Martell but more playful than Din Djarin.
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The Dynamics of the Heroics
The cast was actually stacked, which is easy to forget. You had:
- Priyanka Chopra Jonas as Ms. Granada (the boss of the program who... well, no spoilers, but she's got secrets).
- Christian Slater as Tech-No.
- Boyd Holbrook (who was the villain in Logan) playing Miracle Guy.
- YaYa Gosselin as Missy Moreno, the heart of the whole film.
What’s wild is how much the "dad energy" carries the first act. Pascal doesn't have a ton of screen time because the movie focuses on the kids, but his presence hangs over the whole thing. He’s the standard they’re trying to live up to. When the adults get captured—which happens pretty fast, by the way—the movie shifts into full-blown kid-power mode.
The Weird Connection to The Fantastic Four
Fast forward to now, 2026, and everyone is talking about Pascal as Reed Richards. But if you go back and watch pedro pascal we can be heroes, you can see the blueprint for his version of Mr. Fantastic. Marcus Moreno isn't just a fighter; he’s a leader who has to balance the weight of the world with the needs of his family. He’s vulnerable. He’s not this untouchable, perfect God-figure. He’s a guy who makes mistakes.
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Rodriguez has talked about how he wanted Marcus to feel "legit." He said once that when Pascal takes his glasses off, he looks like a total badass. But it's that warmth he brings to the role that makes it work. He isn't barking orders like a drill sergeant. He’s encouraging. He listens. It’s that high level of emotional intelligence that Pascal brings to every single role, whether he’s wearing a bucket on his head or a superhero suit.
Is We Can Be Heroes 2 Actually Happening?
This is the big question everyone’s asking in 2026. Netflix greenlit a sequel almost immediately after the first one blew up (it hit something like 44 million households in its first month). But then... silence. For years.
The problem is pretty obvious: Pedro Pascal became the busiest man in Hollywood. Between Gladiator 2, The Last of Us Season 2, and joining the MCU, finding a window for him to put the Marcus Moreno suit back on has been a nightmare. Robert Rodriguez has stayed optimistic, though. He’s mentioned that the script for the sequel actually accounts for the kids getting older.
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Honestly, the "time jump" is a smart move. YaYa Gosselin and the rest of the crew aren't little kids anymore. They've grown up, and the sequel would likely see them as established heroes, perhaps even more capable than their parents. Whether we get a major Pedro Pascal cameo or he takes a backseat as a "retired mentor" remains to be seen. Given his schedule, a smaller, impactful role seems more likely than him leading the charge.
What to Expect in the Sequel
- The Kids as Adults: Expect to see how their powers have evolved. Guppy (Sharkboy and Lavagirl's daughter) was already a powerhouse as a toddler; imagine her now.
- New Threats: If the first movie was a "test," what's the real danger?
- The Parent Role: It would be a huge missed opportunity if we don't see Marcus Moreno dealing with his daughter being more famous than him.
Where to Watch and What to Do Next
If you haven't seen it, or if you only saw it once back in 2020, it’s worth a re-watch just to see the "Dad-ro Pascal" vibes in their early stages. It’s streaming on Netflix. It’s only about 90 minutes long, so it’s an easy sit.
If you're looking for more Pascal content while waiting for his next big blockbuster, check out his earlier indie work like The Prospect or even his guest spot on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It’s fun to see how far he’s come from being a "redshirt" to being the guy who defines the modern superhero dad.
For the most up-to-date news on the sequel production, keep an eye on Robert Rodriguez’s social feeds—he tends to drop "first look" photos there way before the official trailers hit. If you're a parent, this is probably the best way to introduce your kids to Pascal's filmography before they're old enough for the "mushy-brain" violence of The Last of Us.
Actionable Insight: Re-watch the training scenes where Anita Moreno (Marcus’s mom) teaches the kids. It’s basically a masterclass in the "Robert Rodriguez Style"—quick cuts, practical-ish effects, and a lot of heart. It puts the whole "next generation" theme of the movie into perspective before we eventually get the sequel.