In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Emmy-winning actor Paul Walter Hauser opened up about his decision to join the upcoming Disney film reboot of Marvel's Fantastic Four, despite the franchise's less than stellar track record on the big screen. Hauser admitted that the previous film adaptations weighed heavily on his mind as he considered taking on a role in director Matt Shakman's highly anticipated project, set to release on July 25, 2025.

Having recently earned critical acclaim for his role in Black Bird, Hauser is set to play an undisclosed character in the film, alongside a star-studded cast including Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as The Thing. The actor acknowledged the challenges the franchise has faced, stating, "Don't think that didn't weigh in as I was deciding whether or not to take the job. That movie has not fully been nailed just yet."

Despite these concerns, Hauser expressed confidence in the reboot, citing the impressive screenplay, talented department heads, and the cast of exciting actors as factors that convinced him to be a part of the project. He described the film as "special" and emphasized his excitement about being a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Fantastic Four franchise has had a turbulent history on the big screen. After a never-released, low-budget version in 1994, the team made their first official appearance in director Tim Story's 2005 movie, starring Chris Evans, Jessica Alba, Ioan Gruffudd, and Michael Chiklis. While the film achieved box office success, it failed to impress critics and holds a 28 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. A sequel followed in 2007 but did not fare any better critically.

The property was rebooted once again in 2015, under the direction of Josh Trank, with Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, and Jamie Bell in the lead roles. However, this version of the Fantastic Four was met with even poorer reception, flopping at the box office and holding a measly 9 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Hauser revealed that his prior working relationship with director Matt Shakman, who previously directed him in an episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, played a significant role in his decision to join the team. Expressing his enthusiasm for collaborating again with Shakman, Hauser expressed his excitement about being a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In addition to his acting endeavors, Hauser is also set to vie for the MLW world heavyweight title at Major League Wrestling's Battle Riot VI in Atlanta. A lifelong wrestling fan, Hauser hopes to balance his acting commitments with his passion for the sport.

As the Fantastic Four reboot gains momentum, fans and industry insiders alike will be eagerly anticipating the film's release, hoping that this iteration will finally do justice to Marvel's beloved superhero team.