What's Inside?
- Paul Walter Hauser, debuting as Mole Man, gave The Fantastic Four: First Steps a surprising 3.5-star rating on Letterboxd.
- The Golden Globe winner admitted telling “70 or 80 random people” about his secret Marvel role despite strict studio spoiler rules.
- Hauser praised the film’s score, design, and cast but revealed disappointment over a cut scene with co-star Vanessa Kirby.
Marvel’s latest cinematic event, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, led by Pedro Pascal, has ignited major buzz for introducing a fresh lineup of heroes and long-awaited villains. Yet, one of its own stars, Paul Walter Hauser, delivered a surprisingly modest verdict. The Golden Globe winner, who plays the antihero Mole Man, openly gave the film a 3.5-star rating on Letterboxd, sparking intrigue among fans already dissecting every detail of the MCU’s future.
Paul Walter Hauser Gives Honest Review Of The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Paul Walter Hauser has shared his candid thoughts on Marvel’s latest release, The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Writing on Letterboxd, the actor revealed:
“I love the score, the production design, the performances. I wish they hadn’t cut my scene with Vanessa Kirby, but I’m stoked that I got to be in a Marvel movie (first world problem shit; I’m spoiled rotten to get to act). Excited to follow the Franklin story!!! #FantasticFive.”
Paul Walter Hauser, who plays Mole Man in #FantasticFour, gave the movie 3.5 stars on Letterboxd pic.twitter.com/IPtQvMbWq7
— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) August 17, 2025
His words were surprising in an industry where most stars either dodge reviews or stick to glowing endorsements. He balanced his genuine praise with playful criticism. Hauser shared his reputation as one of Hollywood’s most refreshingly unfiltered voices. The missing scene with Vanessa Kirby, in particular, shows how even actors feel the sting of editing, despite being part of such monumental projects.
In The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Hauser’s character, Harvey Elder— better known to comic fans as Mole Man— steps into the MCU for the first time. Traditionally a Fantastic Four foe, Mole Man takes on a more complex arc here, ultimately joining forces with the heroes to battle Galactus. The casting itself was a surprise, but Hauser’s frank reflections on both his role and the movie have added yet another unexpected twist to Marvel’s rollout strategy.
Paul Walter Hauser Gives His Honest Thoughts On Breaking the Marvel Secrecy Code
Perhaps more eyebrow-raising than his review was Hauser’s admission that he wasn’t entirely discreet about landing a role in the MCU. While Marvel Studios is notorious for keeping its casting decisions under lock and key, Hauser admitted he let the secret slip— multiple times.
“For the most part I was zip-lipped, and everybody understands at this point. They all know if you do Star Wars, or Marvel, you can’t talk about it,” he told GQ.
“But if I’m being honest— and I pride myself on my honesty nowadays— I probably told 70 or 80 random people, be it family members or fans. I’m not gonna lie and say I told literally no one. I told several dozen people.”
The actor went further, explaining how he often gave playful hints when pressed by fans.
“If a little kid comes up to me in a wheelchair with a comic book, and they’re like, ‘Are you Mole Man?’ I would say something like, ‘I don’t know man, I hear there is a mole…’ And wink at them, just to get them excited.”
This lighthearted attitude starkly contrasts Marvel’s famously strict spoiler controls, especially after the Russo Brothers emphasized their zero-tolerance stance while filming Avengers: Doomsday. Hauser, however, likened the secrecy rules to “jaywalking,” joking that Marvel bosses like Kevin Feige surely had bigger concerns than chasing down actors for a few leaked details.
“It’s like, you can get [arrested] for that, but it’s like, hopefully they’re catching the bad guys,” he added.
“And when I look at Kevin Feige and the Marvel folks, I go, I think they’re probably busy with some other stuff. They’re probably not gonna chase me down and scalp me, or shoot a little [dart] into my neck.”
The Fantastic Four: First Steps stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Ralph Ineson, and Hauser. With the team facing the planet-devouring Galactus, the film promises a bold new direction for Marvel’s storytelling.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is now showing in theaters.
