Marvel Actor Broke Kevin Feige’s Top Rule, Spilled Secret Role to 70 or 80 People

For those catching up, Marvel’s Fantastic Four reboot introduces Mole Man (played by Hauser) as a subterranean antihero with a soft spot for Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby). With Kirby’s Storm, Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards, Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm, and Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm rounding out the titular four, the cast is, frankly, stacked. And, of course, who better to play the turncoat Subterranea commander than Hauser, a guy who can balance humor and menace in equal measure?

Despite Hauser’s unintentional leaks, the secrecy surrounding his role held up pretty well. Mole Man didn’t appear in any trailers, leaving fans guessing until the movie hit theaters and the rumors began swirling. That said, when you’re up against Ruffalo-level spoilers (or Tom Holland’s compulsive “oops”), Hauser’s minor leaks seem like child’s play.

Why Does Marvel Value Secrecy SO Much?

Marvel’s obsession with secrecy is legendary and for good reason. With interconnected storylines and rabid fan theories, even the tiniest hint can set off a spoiler apocalypse. Leaks can overshadow a project’s marketing efforts or ruin the surprise for moviegoers who genuinely love the WTF moments in Marvel films (case in point, Endgame’s jaw-dropping shockers).

Kevin Feige and the Marvel overlords are pros at keeping their projects locked down. We’re talking scripts locked in digital vaults, dummy scenes given to actors, and maybe even some scary NDAs that make you sign away not just your soul but possibly your firstborn. Yet, even with all these precautions, their actors somehow manage to hilariously break these no-spoiler codes.

Mole Man Might Be the Next Loki (Sort Of)

Back to the big role reveal, Hauser delivered a pretty bold prediction at the film’s premiere. He speculated that Mole Man could garner “Loki-level” love from Marvel fans. Sure, he’s a curmudgeon with plenty of sharp edges, but according to Hauser, the character is both comedic and endearing throughout the film.

While we’ve yet to see if Mole Man clicks with audiences in the same way as the God of Mischief, the idea of turning a traditional “thorn in the side” villain into a likable antihero is certainly in line with recent Marvel trends. After all, if Loki can build an empire of fanatics while being a literal backstabbing liar, surely Earth’s beloved Mole Man stands a fighting chance?

Marvel Keeps Rolling (Even If Secrets Don’t)

At the end of the day, does a little secret-spilling really hurt anyone? Paul Walter Hauser seems to think that Kevin Feige probably has bigger things to worry about than hunting him down over a few careless whispers (or 70-80). And given that his role stayed fully intact until the film’s official release, you can breathe easy knowing that Marvel’s protective measures still work… mostly.

And hey, in a world where superhero films dominate the cultural zeitgeist, it’s these little moments of honesty and mistakes from actors that make them feel, ironically, more human. Besides, if Marvel can forgive Mark Ruffalo for accidentally livestreaming a portion of Thor, you better believe Hauser is in the clear after his mole-y mumblings.

Now, enough about Hauser’s loose lips. If you haven’t yet, get out there and see Mole Man digging his way into the MCU in Fantastic Four, in theaters now. (But maybe don’t ask him for any future spoilers, just in case Kevin Feige is paying closer attention after all.)