Lea Thompson is a beloved actress with a stellar resume for both film and television. Many fans will recognize her for having starred in the classic 1985 film Back to the Future. Others, however, might recognize her from a much lesser regarded film. In fact, this particular movie – Howard the Duck – is considered by some to be one of the worst films ever made. Similarly, Lea Thompson blames this Marvel adaptation for having ruined her career.
She revealed as much while speaking on the Celebrity Catch Up Podcast. While she acknowledges that the still “did some good films after that,” it certainly didn’t help her career having been in such a bomb.
As Lea Thompson explained:
“It was devastating. In the course of a year I was in the biggest hit and the biggest bomb, so that probably destroyed my film career. Even though I did some good films after that, it was really difficult…”
Obviously, Marvel wasn’t quite as popular of a brand for moviegoers at the time as it is now. With Howard the Duck being one of the first live-action theatrical Marvel adaptations, it just did not bode well for anyone associated with the film or the brand at the time. As such, it would take quite some time before movies like Blade, X-Men, and Spider-Man set the stage for Iron Man and the rest of the MCU.
With that said, both Lea Thompson and even Howard the Duck have managed to save their careers. Lea Thompson has continued to be a popular name for moviegoers everywhere. She even appeared in an episode of Tales from the Crypt, being one of many stars that gave the show an extra edge when it premiered on HBO. Howard the Duck, on the other hand, has become a cult favorite character. He’s even made a few appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – including James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy.
Thompson has also offered to direct a Howard The Duck reboot for Marvel:
I see #HowardTheDuck is trending #3. That’s awesome. #i love my duck #WhatIf I get to direct @Marvel reboot.
— Lea Thompson (@LeaKThompson) July 8, 2021
With that said, perhaps everything has worked out for the best. Lea Thompson is still busy working in her acting career and that includes the upcoming Marvel podcast Squirrel Girl. Her other recent roles include appearances on Star Trek: Picard and The Goldbergs.