Pedro Pascal’s Missed Shot at the Wild West: The Role He Fought For
Pedro Pascal opened up about his failed attempt to join the cast of The Sisters Brothers, revealing how far he went to land a part. Discover how this near-miss fits into his whirlwind career and what it meant for his journey through Hollywood.
Few actors have experienced a meteoric rise quite like Pedro Pascal. After years of working under the radar, he’s now one of Hollywood ’s most in-demand stars. In just the past couple of years, Pascal has taken on a dizzying array of roles—from a Marvel superhero to a Roman general, a charming bachelor, and even a wisecracking fox. It ’s clear he’s making up for lost time, packing his schedule with one high-profile project after another.
One of the standout films from this recent stretch is Eddington, directed by Ari Aster. The movie, set during the pandemic, pits Joaquin Phoenix’s anti-mask sheriff against Pascal’s pro-lockdown mayor in a small-town showdown that mirrors the broader cultural divide. The film sparked plenty of debate, but it also gave Pascal a chance to bring up an old regret with his co-star during a press interview.
Pascal’s Unfulfilled Western Dream
During a conversation with Phoenix for Dazed, Pascal couldn’t help but mention a missed opportunity.
“Do you know how badly I wanted to be in The Sisters Brothers ? I wrote letters and stuff. I read the book!”
Released in 2018, The Sisters Brothers starred Phoenix and John C. Reilly as a pair of notorious Wild West hitmen, Charlie and Eli Sisters. Under Jacques Audiard’s direction, the film follows their dangerous pursuit of gold prospectors, played by Jake Gyllenhaal and Riz Ahmed.
It’s not clear which character Pascal was hoping to play, but he would have been a natural fit for either of the main roles. The novel that inspired the film, written by Patrick deWitt, came out in 2011. Despite its star-studded cast, The Sisters Brothers struggled at the box office, earning just $14 million against a $38 million budget. However, critics embraced it, and it racked up nominations at the César Awards, where Audiard took home Best Director, as well as at the Venice Film Festival.
What Could Have Been
If Pascal had landed a part, he would have shared the screen with the legendary Rutger Hauer, the Dutch actor whose appearance in the film was his last before his passing in 2019. That missed connection adds another layer of what-ifs to Pascal’s story.
Pascal didn’t have to wait long to saddle up for a Western, though. In 2023, he starred opposite Ethan Hawke in Pedro Almodóvar’s short film Strange Way of Life. Like The Sisters Brothers, it centers on two gunslingers, but this time, their bond is romantic rather than familial.
Redefining the Western
The topic of Westerns came up thanks to Eddington, which was filmed in the deserts of New Mexico. When asked by Dazed if he considered the movie a Western, Pascal seemed uncertain, replying,
“This one seems like a political satire western, but only partly because we’re in a dusty, small town, that’s what makes it a western?”
Pascal’s journey through Hollywood has been full of twists, near-misses, and unexpected turns. His longing to join The Sisters Brothers is just one chapter in a career that keeps surprising both him and his fans.