It wasn’t lost on Paul Walter Hauser that previous film depictions of the Fantastic Four didn’t set the world on fire.
While talking to Hollywood reporterthe in-demand actor reveals that the poorly received film adaptations of the Marvel superhero team made him think twice about joining director Matt Shakman’s Disney film, which hits theaters on July 25, 2025. Hauser, who recently won an Emmy for his movie role in Black Birdwill play an as-yet-undisclosed role in the project, which stars Pedro Pascal (“Mr. Fantastic”), Vanessa Kirby (“Hidden Woman”), Joseph Quinn (“Human Torch”) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (“The Thing”).
“Don’t think that didn’t matter when I was deciding whether to take the job or not,” Hauser says of the property’s checkered Hollywood past. “This movie isn’t fully developed yet.”
He continues: “But I really think that the combination of the script, the heads of departments working on the film and this elegant cast of really stimulating actors – some of them long-time and some of them just now – [make me feel that] this movie is special and I wanted to be a part of this movie.”
After a never-released, low-budget version produced by Roger Corman in 1994, Fantastic Four hit the huge screen with director Tim Story’s 2005 film, which starred Chris Evans, Jessica Alba, Ioan Gruffudd and Michael Chiklis. Although the film’s box office success led to a sequel in 2007, the title was not a critical favorite and received a 28% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The facility was later reactivated for Josh Trank’s 2015 film starring Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Bell. This version was less successful than the 2005 version, as it was a flop at the box office and has only a 9% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Hauser explains that he and Shakman (WandaVision) we met for lunch to discuss the actor joining the team. “Matt Shakman recommended it to me many years ago It’s always radiant in Philadelphia– says Hauser. “It’s really stimulating to reunite and collaborate on this film in some capacity. I’m excited to be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”
The actor talked to THR ahead of his huge fight with Major League Wrestling’s Battle Riot VI on Saturday in Atlanta, where he will fight 40 competitors for a shot at the MLW World Heavyweight Championship. Hauser, a lifelong wrestling fan who first stepped into the ring at a charity event in November, hopes to find time in his busy schedule to balance future matches with acting appearances like next year’s Naked weapon reboot and upcoming biopic directed by Josh Gad Saturday Night Live the legend of Chris Farley.
“Wrestling really suits me in terms of what I love, and I find ways to work it into my schedule,” Hauser says. “Obviously I don’t want to wrestle in a gym in front of 30 people, and I know a lot of people will hear that quote and say, ‘You’re not a real wrestler.’ But there are only so many hours in the day and I’m a very busy guy. That’s why something like Battle Riot MLW is very stimulating to me.”
