Pedro Pascal has made headlines with his bold criticism of Donald Trump and the former president's derogatory remarks about artists. During a press conference at the Cannes Film Festival, Pascal, who is known for his roles in Game of Thrones and The Last of Us, expressed concern over the potential weaponization of political messages in films by US border guards.
“Fuck the people that try to make you scared,” Pascal stated passionately while promoting Ari Aster’s latest film, Eddington. He encouraged fellow creatives to “keep telling the stories, keep expressing yourself and keep fighting for it.” Pascal's remarks came in the wake of Trump’s comments on his Truth Social platform, where he labeled singer Bruce Springsteen a “pushy, obnoxious JERK” for his criticisms of Trump’s leadership. Additionally, Trump claimed that Taylor Swift’s popularity had waned since he publicly expressed his “hatred” for her.
When asked about his apprehensions regarding political themes in films and their implications for actors, Pascal shared, “Obviously, it’s very scary for an actor participating in a movie to sort of speak to issues like this.” He emphasized his desire for safety and protection for all, stating, “I want very much to live on the right side of history.” As an immigrant himself, whose parents fled the dictatorship of Pinochet in Chile when he was just nine months old, Pascal highlighted the importance of standing by those in need of protection.
In Eddington, Pascal portrays Ted Garcia, a small-town mayor in New Mexico, alongside notable actors Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, and Austin Butler. The film, which is directed by Aster, renowned for his work in elevated horror films like Midsommar and Hereditary, explores the dynamics between Pascal’s character, who advocates for restrictions, and Phoenix’s character, a lockdown-sceptic sheriff named Joe Cross. The narrative is set against the backdrop of the first summer of Covid-19 restrictions and the Black Lives Matter protests.
When questioned about the potential repercussions of the film's political messaging for cast members attempting to re-enter the US, Aster candidly admitted, “The truth is, I’m scared of everything. All the time.” He acknowledged the seriousness of the concern while maintaining a sense of humor about it, saying, “The tongue is sort of in the cheek in that answer, but it’s also true.”
Reflecting on the inspiration for Eddington, Aster revealed, “I wrote this film in a state of fear and anxiety about the world.” He articulated a broader societal shift, stating, “I feel like over the last 20 years we’ve fallen into this age of hyperindividualism. The social force that used to be central in liberal mass democracies, which is an agreed-upon version of the world, that is gone now.” Aster identified the Covid pandemic as a critical moment in which societal bonds were irrevocably severed.
