Miles Teller Cites 2015 Esquire Profile as Reason for Interview Reluctance Amid Cannes Promotion

At Cannes 2026, Miles Teller said he will not do press profiles while promoting James Gray’s film *Paper Tiger*. He cited a 2015 Esquire feature that he believes misquoted and mischaracterized him, prompting a lasting reluctance to participate in un-recorded interviews.

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The Esquire piece opened with the line, “You’re sitting across from Miles Teller at the Luminary restaurant in Atlanta and trying to figure out if he’s a dick,” and later called him “kind of a dick” who would “charm the world with his dickishness.” Teller called the article a “violation” and said it left him feeling “mishandled.”

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• Miles Teller – Lead of *Paper Tiger*, objecting to the Esquire profile.

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• Esquire – Magazine that published the 2015 profile.

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• James Gray – Director of *Paper Tiger*.

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• Adam Driver – Co-star as Gary Pearl.

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• Scarlett Johansson – Co-star.

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• Neon – Distributor releasing the film in 2026.

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• 2015 – Esquire publishes the profile.

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• 2026 (Cannes) – Teller declines press profiles while promoting *Paper Tiger*.

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• 12 years – Gap between profile and Cannes comments.

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• 1986 – Setting of *Paper Tiger*.

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Teller argues that sensational headlines drive clicks, noting “people want to click on the negativity.” He suggests that misquotation can eclipse an actor’s real conduct, influencing public perception and prompting some performers to limit interview exposure.

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In an IndieWire interview at Cannes, Teller explained that without a camera, interviewers could misquote him, rearrange his words, or attribute statements he never made. He added that his team decided against further profile work after reviewing the Esquire piece. On the day the article appeared, he posted on X that “Esquire couldn’t be more wrong. I don’t think there’s anything cool or entertaining about being a dick or an asshole. Very misrepresenting.”

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• “That was so mishandled,” — Miles Teller, Cannes interview

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• “ Popular on Variety “I told my team, ‘Guys, I don’t think I’m doing this again, because I’m reading this and this doesn’t sound like me to me.” — Miles Teller, Cannes interview

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• “If you go to bed and put your head on your pillow and how you treat people truly, that’s what matters.” — Miles Teller, Cannes interview

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• “You’re sitting across from Miles Teller at the Luminary restaurant in Atlanta and trying to figure out if he’s a dick.” — Esquire profile, 2015

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• “The reason why I have not done profiles is because I said, ‘Wow, if I’m not doing this interview on camera, this person can misquote things or put things out of order or say things that didn’t happen.’ It felt like such a violation of what actually transpired.” — Miles Teller, Cannes interview

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*Paper Tiger*, set in 1986, follows two brothers whose plan to clean the Gowanus Canal draws the ire of Russian mobsters. Neon will release the film theatrically later in 2026.

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