Miles Teller on Losing 'La La Land' Role to Ryan Gosling: 'Everything Happens for a Reason'

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Miles Teller believes that "everything happens for a reason."

In a new Vanity Fairinterview published on Wednesday, Teller explains why he's not upset about losing the starring role in La La Land
to Ryan Gosling.

"I'm a pretty strong believer that everything happens for a reason," says Teller, who was initially cast in the upcoming musical co-starring Emma Stone but ultimately replaced by Gosling. The movie also would have re-teamed him with Whiplash writer-director Damien Chazelle.

"I'm happy Damien made the film he wanted to make," the Fantastic Four star adds. "I don't get jealous of good reviews. There's movies that were reviewed terribly that I cherish. I think once you start getting envious of accolades, it’s never going to be enough."


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The 29-year-old actor also brushes off the Esquire magazine cover story that burned him last year.

"I try not to let that stuff affect my day to day," Teller shares. "I'm not the kind of person to Google myself, because you'll find whatever you’re looking for. If you want to read something that says you're the greatest actor that ever lived, if you want to find something that is pretty hurtful, you’ll find it."

Teller goes on to admit that being in the press can get "frustrating" at times.

"When you know the person you are, but somebody writes something that couldn't be further from the truth, and that gets a lot of circulation," he explains. "There’s obviously a part of you that wants to feel understood."

As for his future plans, Teller wouldn't mind delving into theater.

"I'm just curious what I can do when I have a couple months to prepare for something," Teller says, adding that he's not driven by a paycheck.

"F**k that. I don't want to do one for them," he declares of big-budget flicks vs. passion projects. "I don't want to do one for anybody other than myself."


MORE: Miles Teller Debuted His New Blonde Hair and Twitter Went Insane

For his latest role, Teller transforms into a champion boxer whose career suffers a devastating blow following a car accident. Watch the gut-wrenching Bleed for This trailer below.