3 Real-Life Celebrities Who Inspired Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards (Confirmed)

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According to director Matt Shakman of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” the real-life individuals who influenced the MCU’s portrayal of Reed Richards may come as no surprise to fans. In creating the film, Shakman drew inspiration from numerous Marvel comics featuring the Fantastic Four, resulting in a faithful adaptation. While many characters were based on their comic book counterparts, Reed was largely inspired by certain real-life geniuses, showcasing some of their notable characteristics.

Previous portrayals of Reed Richards, like Ioan Gruffudd’s character from the 2005 movie “Fantastic Four” and Miles Teller’s depiction in the 2015 film, have shown distinct personalities. While aspects of Reed Richards and Mister Fantastic from the comics were incorporated into these roles, many viewers have noticed that John Krasinski’s Reed in “First Steps” seems to be a unique character.

In a recent interview, director Matt Shakman disclosed that three renowned historical figures, who could be considered intellectual superstars, played significant roles in shaping the on-screen portrayal of Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

The Three Real People Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Reed Richards is Based On

Steve Jobs

Matt Shakman, one of the creators, acknowledged that Apple’s pioneer, entrepreneur, and innovator Steve Jobs served as a source of inspiration for his portrayal of Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. From the outset of the series, it was evident that besides being a superhero, Reed Richards was also a renowned inventor in the world depicted.

Initially, the Fantasticar wasn’t a common vehicle found on city streets; rather, Reed Richards developed it for the team’s exclusive use. Moreover, his inventions were instrumental in advancing the storyline throughout the movie. For instance, he engineered the teleportation bridge to move Galactus away from their planet.

During his interview on the “Stuff Dreams Are Made Of” podcast (available on YouTube), Matt Shakman, director of the Fantastic Four, discussed in detail how HERBIE, another invention by Reed Richards, bore resemblance to the iPhone. This comparison was a pointed reference linking Reed and Steve Jobs directly.

Shakman states that while the Four possessed their personal HERBIE robots, other individuals in that realm owned the consumer variants of HERBIE robots.

For their unique needs, we had to create everything custom-made, such as the Fantasticar and HERBIE robot. We even produced consumer variants of HERBIE robots, along with vintage-style vehicles that were incredibly appealing.

When Shakman inquired if it resembled Amazon’s Alexa in a way similar to HERBIE, the director affirmed this comparison, stating that he perceived it as analogous to an iPhone.

As a self-proclaimed cinephile, I’d liken them to quirky yet charming characters from a movie – think of those HERBIE vehicles with their unique flair. They zip about, making deliveries left and right, much like an iPhone, always efficient and versatile.

In essence, Shakman found Steve Jobs a significant inspiration when creating his portrayal of Reed Richards. This was particularly noticeable in the way he depicted Reed’s role in driving technological advancements within the fictional world.

Albert Einstein

During the same conversation, Shakman shared that the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Reed Richards was inspired by Albert Einstein. Known for his brilliance, Einstein is renowned for his groundbreaking work on the theory of relativity, quantum theory, and physics research.

Reed Richards, a well-known figure in the scientific community, frequently delved into physics and mathematical equations. He was also the mind behind several innovative theories, particularly those concerning teleportation and interstellar journeys.

In the MCU, as per Shakman’s assertion, Reed Richards is portrayed as a remarkably gifted individual, much like Albert Einstein, who was known for his prodigious talents. It is suggested that Reed’s technological advancements preceded those of the Earth-616 universe by approximately two to three decades. At a young age similar to Einstein’s, Reed is believed to have taught himself geometry and attained a doctorate by an unusually early age.

Long before he was known as Mister Fantastic, due to his incredible gift for innovation, he was already developing groundbreaking technology that was decades ahead of its time. As a result, by the 1960s, the world had changed significantly compared to our own ’60s.

Robert Moses

Robert Moses served as the third and concluding influence behind the character of Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four. Known for his work as an architect and city planner, he played a significant role in developing the transportation infrastructure of the New York metropolitan area.

Moses played a significant role in shaping modern-day New York City, contributing considerably to its architecture, engineering, and urban planning. His influence extended beyond the city, significantly impacting these areas across the United States during the 20th century.

In some depictions, Moses is often shown standing above miniature versions of New York City, much like certain images where Reed Richards poses with his own scaled-down cities.

In the movie “Fantastic Four,” it became clear that Reed’s inventions, intellect, and personality traits significantly shaped the course of the world, much in the same way as Robert Moses did for the future of America.

During the conversation, it came to light that Moses was a genuine individual whom Reed’s character was modeled after.

“Steve Jobs meets Einstein meets Robert Moses. He is exactly that, yeah!”

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2025-08-30 06:35