Actor Miles Teller reflected on his role in the 2015 Fantastic Four film, attributing its poor reception to the interference of one important individual in the editing process. In a recent interview, Teller expressed disappointment over the project's outcome despite strong casting and hard work from the team. The film, directed by Josh Trank for 20th Century Fox, underperformed with $167 million worldwide on a $120 million budget.
Background on the 2015 Film
The 2015 adaptation of Marvel's Fantastic Four, helmed by director Josh Trank, marked Teller's brief stint in the superhero genre. Released by 20th Century Fox, the movie featured Teller as Mr. Fantastic alongside a cast he described as spectacular. Despite ambitions to deliver a serious superhero entry, the film became the lowest-grossing adaptation of the comic book series, earning $167 million globally against a $120 million production budget.
Teller's Reflections
Speaking on SiriusXM’s Radio Andy, Teller quipped about the film's quality: “You saw the movie, right? Your eyes were working during that time?” He pointed to a single culprit for the mishandling, stating, “I think it’s unfortunate because so many people worked so hard on that movie. And, honestly, maybe there was one really important person who kind of f***ed it all up.”
Teller had joined the project to bolster his resume as a leading man, noting, “And that was our chance. And the casting, I thought was spectacular. I love all those actors.” After viewing the final cut, he confided to a studio head, “I think we’re in trouble.”
Comparison to Recent Success
In contrast, this year’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps achieved the highest gross for any adaptation, surpassing $521 million worldwide. Teller's comments come a decade after the original release and amid a new Mr. Fantastic in the Marvel Cinematic Universe reboot.