John Malkovich, expected to feature as the cosmonaut supervillain Red Ghost, has been cut from Marvel Studios’ upcoming film Fantastic Four: First Steps, director Matt Shakman confirmed to Variety. This marks another setback for Malkovich in the Marvel casting landscape, following earlier disappointment linked to the abandoned Spider-Man 4 project from over a decade ago.
Reasons Behind Malkovich’s Removal from the Film
Director Matt Shakman explained that numerous scenes and characters were trimmed during the final editing process of Fantastic Four: First Steps. He highlighted the complexity of weaving together a 1960s retro-futuristic world while introducing multiple villains and main characters, as well as a child character, which ultimately led to many elements being cut.
“There were a lot of things that ultimately ended up hitting the cutting room floor,”
Shakman told Variety.
“When we were building a ’60s retro-future world, introducing all of these villains, introducing these four main characters as a group, as well as individually, introducing the idea of a child — there was a lot of stuff to balance in this movie and some things had to go ultimately in terms of shaping the film for its final version.”
—Matt Shakman, Director
Background on Malkovich’s Marvel Roles and Challenges
Malkovich was cast as Red Ghost, a lesser-known Marvel villain whose storyline dates back to the earliest Fantastic Four comics where he sought to conquer the moon alongside hyper-intelligent apes powered by cosmic rays. According to reports, Red Ghost’s presence in the film would have been introduced through a cold open battle against the Fantastic Four, which has now been removed.
This is not the first time Malkovich has faced disappointment in comic book casting. In 2010, prior to Sony and Marvel’s shift to reboot with The Amazing Spider-Man starring Andrew Garfield and directed by Marc Webb, Sam Raimi had planned for Malkovich to portray the villain Vulture in Spider-Man 4. Sony, however, preferred Anne Hathaway as the movie’s main antagonist, Black Cat—leading to the project’s cancellation and Malkovich losing the role.
Potential Future Opportunities and Marvel’s Lost Chances
Following positive reception to Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Sam Raimi has expressed interest in revisiting the Spider-Man saga. This could potentially open the door for Malkovich to eventually embody the Vulture, joining Michael Keaton’s legacy as the character’s screen incarnation. However, the actor’s repeated setbacks in Marvel projects raise doubts.
Malkovich’s deleted scenes as Red Ghost might surface as bonus content if legal or contractual matters allow. Otherwise, Marvel may owe the actor compensation or a future cameo, possibly within a multiverse storyline. With two high-profile Marvel opportunities falling through, the frustration over Malkovich’s Marvel casting cut is palpable among fans and industry insiders alike.
Impact of Casting Changes on Fans and the Marvel Universe
Removing Malkovich’s role underscores Marvel’s challenging balancing act in crafting complex, character-rich stories while managing fan expectations and studio decisions. His absence leaves a gap for viewers who anticipated a unique villain portrayal. The actor’s history with Marvel roles adds weight to the disappointment, spotlighting how even seasoned talent can be sidelined amid evolving cinematic universes.
Whether Marvel Studios will reintegrate Malkovich into future projects, potentially as an animated voice or in alternate universe narratives, remains uncertain. Nevertheless, these casting upheavals reflect the fluid and often unpredictable nature of the superhero genre’s film production landscape.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What is John Malkovich’s religion?
A. I don’t believe in a god, but it’s not that I lack spiritual beliefs entirely or in general.
Q. Is Being John Malkovich dark?
A. He finds something intriguing and tells his colleague Maxine (played by Catherine Keener) about it. Together, they start a strange business offering people the chance to experience “being John Malkovich.” This unique dark comedy, which explores themes of identity and existence, helped make writer Charlie Kaufman and director Spike Jonze well-known.
Q. What religion is John Malkovich?
A. I’m an atheist. I don’t think I lack all spiritual beliefs, exactly. Perhaps I’m agnostic, but I’m not convinced there’s a powerful creator managing everything. It doesn’t seem logical to me.
