Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Director Explains Why John Malkovich’s Character Was Cut, And Why It Was Especially Difficult On A Personal Level

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The new Marvel movie featuring Fantastic Four: First Steps is set to release in a week, but unfortunately, John Malkovich will not be part of it. Although there was initial excitement about his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film, as hinted in the first teaser trailer, the director has confirmed that Malkovich has been removed from Fantastic Four. This decision wasn’t made lightly by the filmmaker.

John Malkovich Has Been Cut From Fantastic Four: First Steps

According to an interview on Variety, director Matt Shakman revealed that John Malkovich won’t make his Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debut when the Fantastic Four movie is set to release next week. Initially, Malkovich was slated to portray Red Ghost, a villain who first appeared in Marvel Comics and has the power to pass through solid matter following an accident during space exploration. However, as Shakman clarified, these plans have apparently changed.

In the process of creating our ’60s-inspired future world, we had numerous elements that didn’t make it to the final cut. With the addition of multiple villains, a quartet of main characters, their group dynamics, individual backstories, and the concept of a child character, there was an abundance of aspects to manage in this film. Consequently, certain elements were regrettably omitted during the refinement process to ensure the best possible final version.

The Initial Journey of Fantastic Four

This upcoming movie, titled “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” is said to run slightly under two hours and is expected to bring the cherished superhero team into the Marvel Cinematic Universe by presenting a one-of-a-kind blend of retro-futuristic aesthetics that deviates from the franchise’s traditional approach, as hinted by director Shakman. Nevertheless, it appears that some of the creative concepts for the world they envisioned could not be fully incorporated into the theatrical version.

Making the choice to exclude John Malkovich from your film wasn’t likely a simple decision, as evidenced by Shakman’s words. He reminisced about Malkovich’s performance as Red Ghost, describing him as “exceptional” in the role and stating that he “gave it his all.” It seems we might get to appreciate Malkovich’s work when the bonus features are released.

The Personal Reason Why The Decision Was Particularly Hard For The Fantastic Four Director

Matt Shakman chose to feature John Malkovich in his latest production since they had collaborated before on Shakman’s very first directorial effort, “Cut Bank” from 2014. Having worked with Malkovich then made it challenging for him to imagine the film without him. In a recent conversation, he explained:

It was truly disappointing that he wasn’t part of the final cut of the movie, given his status as one of my dearest human companions and a significant source of inspiration for me. As someone who navigates the boundary between theater, film, and television, there is no one more inspiring than the founder of Steppenwolf Theater Company. His stage performances as an actor, his directorial work in theater, and his acting roles in films – he’s simply awe-inspiring. I was privileged to have him join the project.

Back in February, John Malkovich discussed his potential involvement with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, only to later be removed from the film. Looking back, the actor described the filming as an enjoyable yet peculiar experience, finding it unusual to work on a set filled with “massive screens and 18 towering cranes.” At 71 years old, Malkovich shared that the Fantastic Four project was his first venture into this franchise due to dissatisfaction with the contracts presented earlier.

I’m genuinely disappointed that such a challenging choice was made, but considering Malkovich’s captivating performance, there might be hope for him reprising his role in a potential sequel to Fantastic Four: First Steps, which hits theaters this coming Friday, July 25th.

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2025-07-17 03:08