Ethan Hawke thinks Paul Dano is a "world-class human being"
The Blue Moon actor thinks the recent "hateful" comments situation, which saw director Quentin Tarantino brand the Swiss Army Man actor "weak sauce" and the "worst f****** actor in SAG", was a "great lesson" in dealing with negativity because so many people then spoke out to defend and praise Paul.
23 December 2025
Speaking on the Joe Rogan podcast, Ethan said: "I don't think Paul Dano ever knew that so many people loved him.
"He's gotta wake up one morning and find out this director's went off on him and saying these hateful things, but anyone who knows Quentin knows he just talks and talks.
"Anyone who knows Paul knows he's a world-class human being.
"All this love for Paul is coming out. There's a great lesson in that. You don't have to worry about the negativity people send your way."
ulp Fiction filmmaker Tarantino named Paul Thomas Anderson's 2007 drama There Will Be Blood as his fifth-favourite movie of the 21st century, but admitted it would have been higher in the list if he hadn't been so unimpressed by Paul's performance alongside Daniel Day-Lewis.
Speaking on The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast, he said: "There Will Be Blood would stand a better chance to be in number one or number two if it didn't have a big giant flaw in it, and the flaw is Paul Dano.
"Obviously, it's supposed to be a two-hander, and it's also so drastically obvious that it's not a two-hander.
"He is weak sauce, man. He's a weak sister.
"Austin Butler would have been wonderful in that role. [Dano] just such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy."
After his remarks went viral, a host of stars leapt to Paul's defence.
Filmmaker Matt Reeves, 59, took to social media to describe the star, who he directed in 2022 movie The Batman, as "an incredible actor".
Reeves wrote on X: "Paul Dano is an incredible actor, and an incredible person."
Hollywood actor Ben Stiller, 60, replied to Reeves' message with a Hallelujah emoji, and he also praised Paul, 41, on his own X account.
He posted: "Paul Dano is f-ing brilliant (sic)""
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Simu Liu, 36,also praised the Fabelmans actor.
He wrote on X: "idk man i think paul dano is an incredible actor".
The Batman Part II screenwriter Mattson Tomlin posted: "I am really pleased to see so many people cheer on Paul Dano this week.
"Not only is he a terrific actor, but he's an astonishing director who exudes control and tremendous empathy. Check out Wildlife if you haven't seen it."
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