Matt Damon Instantly Recognized Pedro Pascal's Star Power
Years before becoming a Hollywood heavyweight, Pedro Pascal left an unforgettable impression on Matt Damon and Emily Blunt with just seconds of screen time in a minor role that got cut from the final film.
Matt Damon remembers the exact moment he knew an unknown actor was destined for stardom. The encounter happened on the set of The Adjustment Bureau in 2011, where Pedro Pascal played a throwaway role as a maitre d' that barely made it to the final cut.
During a recent Howard Stern Show appearance, Damon shared how both he and co-star Emily Blunt were immediately struck by Pascal's natural talent. The brief interaction left such a strong impression that they discussed it right after Pascal walked away from their table.
Damon recalled the moment: "I did a movie with Emily Blunt called 'The Adjustment Bureau', and there was this throwaway part of a Maitre D'. It got cut out of the movie. But I remember Emily and I went and sat down, you know, and this Maitre D' walked away...We both looked at each other, and Em goes, 'That guy's really f*cking good.' I said, 'Yeah, what the f*ck. That guy was really good.' There was something just incredibly interesting but real and natural...And years later, found out it was Pedro Pascal."
From Bit Parts to Leading Roles
Back then, Pascal had only appeared in small roles in films like Sisters and I Am That Girl. The Adjustment Bureau represented one of his earliest Hollywood opportunities, even though his scene got trimmed from the theatrical release.
The sci-fi thriller, directed by George Nolfi, earned $126.9 mn at the box office and received decent reviews with a 71% Rotten Tomatoes score. Pascal's blink-and-you-miss-it appearance showed just a glimpse of what was coming.
Reunion on The Great Wall
Years later, Pascal and Damon worked together again on The Great Wall, Zhang Yimou's monster epic. This time Pascal had a substantial role as Spanish mercenary Pero Tovar, fighting alongside Damon's character against alien creatures threatening ancient China.
Pascal told Access Hollywood about meeting Damon again: "He's one of the best guys I've ever met." The actor admitted feeling starstruck when Damon visited his makeup chair during production. "And so, it was a special experience for me because I was in my makeup chair...putting on this disgusting wig and beard and stuff that you see in the movie, and he rolled in to say hi and introduced himself. I was starstruck."
What surprised Pascal most was Damon's memory. "I had two lines in one of his movies; he totally remembered. He was like, 'You made me chuckle, you made me laugh when I sat down. And you made a joke when you sat me down, and I drink from the water, and you said something, and I spit out...'"
Pascal's Packed Schedule Ahead
The actor who once played forgettable background characters now commands major franchises. Pascal recently appeared in Eddington, Materialists, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, marking his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut.
His upcoming slate includes The Mandalorian and Grogu, hitting theaters May 22, 2026. Jon Favreau directs this continuation of the Disney+ series that made Pascal a household name. He'll return for Avengers: Doomsday on December 18, 2026, alongside his Fantastic Four castmates.
Pascal also stars in Tony Gilroy's drama Behemoth, where he replaced Oscar Isaac in the lead role. The film features Eva Victor, Olivia Wilde, and Matthew Lillard, though David Harbour recently left the project citing mental health concerns. No release date has been announced.