Pedro Pascal Shares Why He And Vanessa Kirby Are 'Always Grabbing Onto One Another' After Fans Notice Their Red Carpet Body Language

Pedro Pascal joined his fellow Fantastic Four cast members on the red carpet this week for the premiere of Marvel's highly anticipated movie First Steps. And while there was plenty of buzz, it was Pascal’s interactions with co-star Vanessa Kirby that really got people talking.

The duo were first announced as part of the Fantastic Four lineup back in February 2024. Alongside them are Ebon Moss-Bachrach from The Bear and Stranger Things actor Joseph Quinn. Together, they make up Marvel’s latest superhero team.

In the film, Pascal plays the brilliant scientist Reed Richards, while Kirby steps into the role of Sue Storm. Quinn plays her younger brother Johnny Storm, and Moss-Bachrach takes on the character of Ben Grimm.

Since landing their roles, Pascal and Kirby have spent a lot of time together—not just on set, but also traveling for press events and promotional appearances. Naturally, their closeness hasn’t gone unnoticed by fans.

Kirby and Pascal are joined in Fantastic Four by Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn David A. Smith/Getty Images for Disney

Are Pascal and Kirby in a relationship?

Nope, they’re not dating. Vanessa Kirby is currently in a relationship with Paul Rabil, and the couple is expecting their first child. As for Pascal, he isn’t publicly linked to anyone at the moment.

Still, the two clearly have a strong bond and a deep level of comfort around each other.

While chatting with Jake Hamilton on his show Jake’s Take, Pascal opened up about their friendship. He shared: "I think that we really, really see each other in ourselves in terms of our care for what we do, our care for one another, and our mutual fears, our mutual expectations. We can be kind of hard on ourselves, and I just think that we're very, very similar."

Why do Pascal and Kirby hold hands on the red carpet?

One moment in particular caught fans’ attention at the premiere—videos started circulating online that showed Pascal gently touching Kirby’s arm and later resting his hand on her wrist. It was a subtle but intimate gesture that had people speculating.

Some fans were surprised by how close the two appeared, with one even commenting, "wtf he touching her so much.", while another simply called it "weird."

But Pascal later explained their affectionate behavior. He said that he and Kirby often hold onto one another to feel grounded, sharing: "We are always grabbing onto one another to remind each other that we're not alone in any of it."

Back in early 2024, Kirby was seen offering Pascal the same kind of support. When he reached out during a stressful moment, she responded by gently holding his hand.

Pascal has previously opened up about how staying connected to people helps him stay calm in high-pressure situations. In an interview with Men’s Health, he explained: "When it started to feel so critical, I had to go back to what was always the comfort for me in life, which was engagement in my relationships, my friendships, and conversation and shared experience."

What has Kirby said about Pascal?

Kirby addressed that same 2024 red carpet moment in a recent interview with Vanity Fair. She made it clear that the exchange between her and Pascal wasn’t weird at all from her perspective.

She recalled the moment by saying: "What happened is we were both incredibly nervous going out in front of thousands of people who love this comic. He wanted me to know that we were in this together, and I found it a lovely gesture and was very glad to squeeze his hand back."

Fans were quick to defend Pascal online after some people began questioning the clip. One person clapped back with: "Does it matter what y'all think? If she don't care that's all that matters."

Fantastic Four: First Steps is officially out in theaters now, and it's already got fans buzzing.