MTV: Taylor Kitsch “Mourned” John Carter; stands by Stanton’s film

Michael Sellers Other Stuff

From MTV: Taylor Kitsch will be battling aliens this summer when “Battleship” hits theaters next month, and that’s not his first time fighting enemies from space this year. Of course, “John Carter” didn’t exactly light up the box office, but Kitsch is still very proud of his work on the Mars-set science fiction flick.

“My heart was in that film and I’m very proud,” he told MTV News during a recent interview at CinemaCon. “I’m standing by it.”

The movie was a labor of love for Kitsch and director Andrew Stanton, but it didn’t resonate with audiences in the way it was intended. Kitsch clearly still loves the film, and is upset that it didn’t do as well as many had hoped.

“It is sh–ty, of course. It is sh–ty, and it happens. Every movie I’m going to do is a risk, and I’m not going to stop taking them,” he said. “So it’s exciting to have these two come up, and I definitely mourned, had my moment with it, talked to Stants forever about it, and I’m going to work with Stants again. It’s not going to stop any of that kind of stuff. So yeah, it is what it is.”

When asked if he thinks “John Carter’s” failure to succeed in the box office could be attributed to any specific thing, Kitsch played coy.

“To each their own. If someone wants to point a finger, that’s okay,” he said with a smile. “It truly is a waste of energy to worry about variables out of my control.”

You can find out more from Kitsch about “Battleship” during tonight’s MTV First.
Read more at MTV

And here are the first 13 comments posted at MTV, just to see the reaction:

  1. johneberhardt commented | 1 hour ago

    The movie was great. For some reason the marketing did not draw the crowds in. We are hoping that the fan base can stir up some interest in another movie and perhaps we can get that one to fly. Star Trek fans did it so why can’t we? See https://www.facebook.com/groups/backtobarsoom/ and see if we can do some good!

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  2. johneberhardt

    johneberhardt commented | 1 hour ago

    The movie was great. For some reason the marketing did not draw the crowds in. We are hoping that the fan base can stir up some interest in another movie and perhaps we can get that one to fly. Star Trek fans did it so why can’t we? See https://www.facebook.com/groups/backtobarsoom/ and see if we can do some good!

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  3. gotblueeyes

    gotblueeyes commented | 1 hour ago

    Absolutely love this movie! Mr. Kitsch certainly should be proud of his performance in this role and I for one, hope upon hope that he’ll be portraying John Carter in the sequel. I laughed, I cried and I got goosebumps!! I only saw the film twice in the theater so I’m really looking forward to the DVD release on June 5th.

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  4. Tom

    Tom commented | 2 hours ago

    I love John Carter too it is a great movie

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  5. Illegalprelude

    Illegalprelude commented | 2 hours ago

    Freaking loved JC and I’m so glad I had a chance to see the wonderful movie in theaters. I hope that others who were scared off by its lack of commercial success (despite grossing nearly $300 million which you never hear about) give the movie a try on Blu-ray and discover what a lot of others have discovered about this lovely movie.

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  6. John

    John commented | 2 hours ago

    John Carter is the best film released so far this year, BAR NONE. Hopefully the dummies at Disney will wake up and realize what a piece of quality entertainment they have here and will green light the sequel so many of the fans are clamoring for.

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  7. Terry

    Terry commented | 3 hours ago

    JC was a fun movie. Taylor was great, and it is really a shame that the movie wasn’t given the chance it deserved to perform at the box office. Love his attitude towards it as well.

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  8. RedBaron96

    RedBaron96 commented | 3 hours ago

    Taylor Kitsch has every reason to be proud of his work in John Carter (of Mars). It was a great movie, our entire family loved it. We even saw it twice in the theater. We rarely get to the movies at all as a family, let alone go see something more than once. I still hope that Disney, or someone, realizes what potential the movie has for the sequels.

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  9. Jan

    Jan commented | 4 hours ago

    Taylor Kitsch was absolutely wonderful in John Carter! And John Carter was an excellent movie! I have seen John Carter 7 times and each time was better than the next. Both my family and friends absolutely loved John Carter and everything about it. It was a beautiful story and it had an incomparable cast! The characters were all fantastic. Loveable, heartwarming – who could ask for more? It was just an extremely well made and directed film. A story that you want to go back to time and time again.

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  10. Jack

    Jack commented | 5 hours ago

    John Carter is an excellent movie. Too bad the marketing ‘strategy’ was so awful. Taylor Kitsch has every right to be proud of his performance in John Carter.

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  11. Annette

    Annette commented | 6 hours ago

    I love the movie and a big part if that is Taylor Kitsch! He carried the film and looked damn good doing it! 🙂 All those involved in the film are wonderful, from the actors to creators! This film deserved so much more than it got, from the Disney marketing or lack there of.. to the few critics who panned it!! I will continue to help fight for John Carter and I pray on hands and knees we get a sequel!!!

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  12. Debbie

    Debbie commented | 6 hours ago

    Taylor Kitsch rocks the role of John Carter. He owns it. This movie was so entertaining. I feel he is the up and coming leading man and character actor. Watch out Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise. Taylor Kitsch is coming up fast. Don’t trust the critics and give John Carter a chance. Though it has left the theater, it will be out on DVD/Bluray June 5. Everyone I know who has seen the film has loved it. I can’t wait to see him in Battleship, and in August for Oliver Stone’s Savages.

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  13. Khanada

    Khanada commented | 6 hours ago

    Taylor is a dear! John Carter was fantastic, as most who actually saw it will tell you. The majority of those dissing the film haven’t seen it and are just parroting what other parrots have said. He should be very proud because he was wonderful in it, as were the rest of the cast! John Carter is one of my favorite films of all time and I hope those who skipped seeing it in the theater will discover how great it is on DVD/BluRay! Keep taking those risks, Tay!! xo

5 comments

  • I’m going to keep google searching JC Sequels until one pops up. I really enjoyed this movie, it was unique, mentally stimulating, adventurous, and inventive. It was also a fresh look at entertainment when the majority of what I have found in theaters lately is chock full of vulgarities and excessive sexual casualness (not that I’m feeling prudish, just drowning in the overkill of that particular theme). If there is a vote for JC2, my vote is in!

  • I don’t understand why anyone would come here and post something so narrow-minded as to question our support for John Carter. It really baffles me! And where this “international expert” nonsense comes from is even more bizarre. John Carter did very well overseas. It was the US where people just didn’t go to see it due to shoddy marketing that caused it to fail here. It’s made loads of money and is a GREAT film that deserved much better than it got.

  • Taylor Kitsch brought John Carter to life. His dedication to this film, is quite apparent. His character arc under Stanton’s direction was very special. This movie will become the classic that it deserves to be. It is sad that so many missed the opportunity to see it in the theaters. Thank you Taylor for having the courage to stand up for this film. You have a great career ahead of you..with that said..buy the DVD….BARSOOM …..

    M

  • Jan wrote:

    I do not understand the massive support to the film. Except in the international market in USA has been a resounding failure. Never seen before. Impossible to expect a sequel. To me, yes I liked the movie. I’ve seen it 6 times in the cinema. Buy and give away the DVD. But I am consistent and not expect to see a sequel. Perhaps in the future, when Disney let the rights to the work of Edgar R. B., someone decides to make another film. But these actors will repeat their roles. The public has not responded. And that is the cause of failure of the Director, Producer and Distributor. If the American public had come in the same way that the international audience perhaps, again perhaps we could dream of another Barsoom. But not so.

    I think the “massive support” you refer to is the fan activism — and that is a result of what many feel is the “massive injustice” to the film — the poor marketing, the obsession with the budget and the gleeful schadengfreude that almost willed it to fail in the US. You say “except int he international market” it was a failure ….others might say “except in the US, it was a success” — after all, international is 2/3 of the total nowadays for most films. But anyway, I sense that you have a good feeling for the film and aren’t trying to tear it down, you just wonder how people can keep dreaming of another Barsoom. It’s easy … I was dreaming of Barsoom for 40 years before this one came along. I’m good at dreaming of Barsoom, and a lot of others are too. Join us! 😉

  • I do not understand the massive support to the film. Except in the international market in USA has been a resounding failure. Never seen before. Impossible to expect a sequel. To me, yes I liked the movie. I’ve seen it 6 times in the cinema. Buy and give away the DVD. But I am consistent and not expect to see a sequel. Perhaps in the future, when Disney let the rights to the work of Edgar R. B., someone decides to make another film. But these actors will repeat their roles. The public has not responded. And that is the cause of failure of the Director, Producer and Distributor. If the American public had come in the same way that the international audience perhaps, again perhaps we could dream of another Barsoom. But not so.

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