The Pascal Pulse - Issue 30

2026 Is the New 2016: When the Light Truly Caught

Scrolling back through Pedro’s Instagram from a decade ago feels like opening a time capsule. As the “2026 is the new 2016” trend has everyone revisiting their own camera rolls, his feed from that year tells a story of a career igniting, a man unafraid and steadfast in his values, and someone deeply rooted in love for his friends, his family, and the world around him.

The world first took notice of him in 2014 through Game of Thrones. If that was the spark, then 2016 was the moment everything truly caught. It was the bridge between recognition and stardom, the year momentum began building toward the wider global stage he would fully step onto in 2017 with Kingsman: The Golden Circle and The Great Wall.

That September, Narcos Season 2 dropped on Netflix, deepening the story of Javier Peña as the series followed the final days of Pablo Escobar and placing Pedro at the center of a global phenomenon. Throughout that year, he shared glimpses of filming in Colombia, celebrating its beauty and the people who made the work possible. He was also filming Kingsman and, by the end of the year, beginning promotional press for The Great Wall, even bringing his nephews with him to New York Comic Con, a small but telling glimpse into how he would continue to experience milestones, by being grounded, family-oriented, and openly joyful about sharing them with the people he loved. Years later, that spirit remains, even as he now stands front and center as the star.

2016 also marked a rise across fashion and culture. He appeared in Flaunt, Observer, and So It Goes, was featured in Chilean magazine SML in a meaningful connection to his birth country, and landed the cover of The Rake, signaling his arrival on the international stage.

His Instagram from that year also shows a man deeply engaged with the world. He mourned the losses of Alan Rickman, Prince and Gene Wilder, honoring artists who shaped him and generations. As someone who has always loved cinema, he also used his platform to celebrate films that moved him, especially those that centered queer stories and representation. When Moonlight premiered, he shared his admiration with a simple but heartfelt post, writing “good. lord,” a brief caption that carried the weight of awe and recognition. In July, he posted in support of Black Lives Matter after the murder of Alton Sterling. After the heartbreaking election of 2016, he shared messages affirming undocumented students, Muslim communities, women, and LGBTQ+ people, making it clear he was standing on the right side of history. In the wake of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, he wrote, “It’s not about prayer. It’s about change… We must stop failing. #Orlando #EndGunViolence.” He also shared a pointed cartoon responding to Brexit, following the June 23 referendum, reflecting his awareness of a world in upheaval.

And woven through it all was community.

He spent that year surrounded by and celebrating his people, as seen across his posts. He showed love for his Game of Thrones family like Lena Headey and Indira Varma, shared moments and spotlighted friends and collaborators including Ben Schwartz, Tessa Thompson, Erin Moriarty, Taron Egerton, Oscar Isaac, and Narcos co-stars Cristina Umaña, Boyd Holbrook, and Wagner Moura. It was a year of connection as much as career, of showing up for others as wholeheartedly as he showed up for the work.

That year, he attended the SAG Awards with Sarah Paulson. Nearly a decade later, he is no longer anyone’s plus-one, but a Screen Actors Guild Award nominee and winner in his own right. In 2023, when Sarah honored him in Time’s 100 Most Influential People list, she wrote, “It’s the beauty he carries inside. His interior light burns so bright, it’s simply taken some time for your eyes to adjust. But now that you’ve seen him, you know too. He’s the whole motherf-cking deal.”

Looking back at 2016, you can see exactly what she meant. The light was already there.

The spark may have been lit in 2014, but in 2016 his interior light truly began to blaze. It wasn’t just that his work, his voice, and his values aligned, it was that the world finally started to notice what had always been there, adjusting to the brightness that would carry him onto the global stage.

With Love -The Editors 💌

This week, James Newton Howard shared a photo with Pedro and Tony Gilroy. The image appears to have been taken in studio. We believe the photo was from the set or scoring process of Behemoth!. There has been no official confirmation of the release date yet.

In more exciting news for Behemoth!, Deadline reports that comedian and actor Erik Griffin (Workaholics) has joined the project in an undisclosed role, adding to an already incredible ensemble led by Pedro alongside Eva Victor, Olivia Wilde, and Alexa Demie.

Just last week, we shared that Will Arnett also came aboard, stepping into the role originally set for David Harbour. As Pedro finishes work on this film, the cast continues to grow, and it’s shaping up to be something really special.

This past week has been marked by a powerful outpouring of images and moments from the Artists for Aid concert, where music, solidarity, and conscience met with purpose. Hosted by Pedro, the People’s Prince, and Bella Hadid, the Princess of Nazareth, alongside organizer Mustafa the Poet, a Sudanese-Canadian artist who launched the Artists for Aid series. Together, they helped draw attention to the crises in Gaza and Sudan.
The photographs circulating since then capture more than celebrity, they capture intention, grief, resolve, and collective care. Artists and attendees gathered not for spectacle, but for action, contributing time, talent, and resources to communities enduring ongoing catastrophe.

The concert raised $5.5 million for the Sudanese American Physicians Association and the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, a testament to what happens when visibility is paired with responsibility.

In a deeply moving moment, the Chairwoman of the Board and Director of Strategic Engagement for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund presented a special thank you gift, signed by children in Gaza, to Pedro, Mustafa the Poet and Bella Hadid in recognition of their compassion, advocacy, and unwavering support for Palestinian children and families.

The framed piece carries a handwritten message addressed to Pedro that reads:

“Thank you Pedro for all your support.
Your willingness to help have made a real difference and are truly appreciated.
Your efforts and commitment mean a great deal and we are grateful for everything you do.
Lots of love,
The PCRF Family.”

Alongside the message is the PCRF logo and signatures from children, turning the piece into both a symbol of gratitude and a testament to the lives touched through solidarity and care.

Watch the full video of this heartfelt moment here.

The Avengers: Doomsday trailer finally sneaks us our first real glimpse of the Fantastic Four, seeing Ben landing in Wakanda. Even better, Reed Richards is reportedly going full comic-accurate, stretching far beyond First Steps with wild, physics-bending tricks like literally turning himself into a parachute.

January 15 marked the three-year anniversary of the premiere of The Last of Us, the show that gave us Joel, Ellie, and one of the most unforgettable, heartbreaking first episodes in recent TV history. It’s wild to think it’s been three years since that opening night. Who’s doing a rewatch? It’s definitely on our list.

January 15 is also Harry Castillo’s birthday. Born in 1979, that makes our favorite unicorn 47 this year. Who’s rewatching Harry’s scenes from Materialists this week? He truly deserves the world. 🦄

Ben Schwartz also joined the 2016 throwback trend, sharing a photo of himself with Pedro and Sam Rockwell from that year. Jonathan Van Ness took part as well, posting a 2016 flashback that included an old selfie with Pedro. Ana de la Reguera rounded it out by sharing her own memory, with one of the photos showing her and Pedro together at the Golden Globes.

In addition, earlier this week, we got this throwback photo of Pedro from his Narcos days, thanks to André Mattos sharing a congratulatory post for Wagner Moura, director Kleber Mendonça Filho, and Brazilian cinema, including a big congrats to Wagner on his Golden Globe win. A sweet little glimpse back at that era as everyone celebrates Wagner.

Since you’re reading this issue, you’re probably already a subscriber, and we thank you for being here. 💛

Next week, on January 25, we’ll be pulling the winner for our 26-issue celebration giveaway. Don’t forget about the extra entry: head to our pinned December 16 post on @thepascalpulse and leave a comment sharing what you love about the newsletter or what you’d like to see more of.

And if you know a friend who would love The Pascal Pulse, feel free to share an issue with them so they can join the fun and enter, too. We’re so grateful for this community and for all of you who make it what it is.

Rachel’s work is a beautiful blend of softness, strength, and storytelling. Through clean linework and warm, expressive color, she captures not just likeness, but mood, vulnerability, and character. Whether it’s quiet, introspective portraits or powerful full-figure studies, every piece feels like a moment paused in time.

Her process pieces are just as compelling as the finished art, showing the journey from sketch to final render and reminding us how much patience and love goes into each layer. There’s a gentleness to her style that makes even the most intense expressions feel human and intimate.

We also love how open she is about creative struggle and growth, pushing through art block and sharing the process anyway. It’s inspiring, honest, and so relatable for fellow artists.

If you’re not already following @rachhsart, you’re missing out on thoughtful, beautifully crafted digital art that celebrates emotion, movement, and quiet strength.

This is very much a take my money moment. Artist Jamie (@pink_pigtail) has created a beautiful piece inspired by Pedro Pascal at the Artists for Aid concert, capturing the moment he formed a heart with his hands and sent it out to the audience. Her style is soft and expressive, with luminous, carefully chosen colors and gentle shading that give the image a warm, glowing feel. The way she uses color brings so much emotion to the moment, making it feel intimate and full of heart.

In an incredibly generous gesture, Jamie is donating the proceeds from this piece to support the cause. The original is available by DMing her directly, with prints and a few stickers available through her Etsy shop. U.S. orders will receive free shipping on prints, and international fans can purchase digital downloads. The fundraiser will run for a full month beginning January 20.

Created by Fans, for Fans

Maiev @LittleMrsMorales & Mel @StainsOfPascal & Jackie 💜

Special Thanks:

To Pedro - thank you for proving that sometimes, society does make the right person famous. Thank you for standing beside those who feel unseen, unheard, and uncertain of their place in the world. You remind us that visibility can be an act of grace.

To our readers - thank you for filling our inbox, our hearts, and this tiny corner of the internet with your brilliance. You turn a project into a community.

See you in the next issue!
Remember: you’re not too much.
You’re exactly the right amount of obsessed.
Until next time