As we approach the end of the 2010s and usher in a brand-new decade, it’s fun to look back at some of the more underappreciated films of the last 10 years. And depending on who you talk to, you may consider the 2012 film, “John Carter,” among the films that might not have been given a fair shake when it was released. And the film’s star Taylor Kitsch is aware that the massive box office bomb is starting to gain some fans, years after its release.
For those that don’t remember, “John Carter” was released in 2012 and was expected to be one of the year’s biggest films. Directed by Andrew Stanton (who previously helmed massive animated films such as “Finding Nemo” and “Wall-E”) and based on a series of classic novels from Edgar Rice Burroughs, the film had all the makings of another big franchise for Disney.
READ MORE: Taylor Kitsch To Star In Neill Blomkamp’s Upcoming Horror-Thriller ‘Inferno’
Before its release, the film was plagued by reports of the production going way over budget with incredibly long reshoots and that there was difficulty on the set, considering Stanton was coming over from an animated background and hadn’t worked in live-action. This led to the film getting savaged by critics upon its release and the box office never recovered.
Now, years later, Kitsch spoke to THR and said there’s a resurgence and he feels that “John Carter” is finally getting a bit of respect that it deserves.
“I think it got another life when it went on Netflix not long ago, maybe a year ago or something, but, yes, to be blunt,” Kitsch said about whether he’s noticed his sci-fi/fantasy film has aged well. “People stop me all the time for that, especially in Europe. It’s had a little mini-resurgence. Maybe, at the time, it was more of a knee-jerk reaction of ‘Let’s see how we can bury this and everyone that has a part in it.’”
He continued, “Over time, I think you take a breath and understand that it is what it is … I guess people who watch it now for the first time can take a lot more away from it than people did at first. It’s always flattering, and I learned a ton on that movie. I honestly don’t see it as a failure. I have great memories from it, and I still talk to a bunch of the cast. It is what it is, right?”
The actor is soon to be the star in the upcoming film “Inferno” from director Neill Blomkamp. The filmmaker recently announced the film, as well as the primary cast, but details about the plot are still being kept under wraps. But Kitsch does shed a bit of light on what the film might entail.
“It’s about a guy who loses everything and will do anything to get it back,” he revealed. “There’s some beautiful undertones with addiction and immigration. It’s something that I can’t wait to dive into. It’ll be very challenging; it’s emotionally raw.”
You can see Kitsch star in the recent film “21 Bridges,” which is in theaters now.