'Fantastic Four: First Steps' Cuts John Malkovich From Movie

MuhammadEntertainment2025-07-175430
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Fantastic Four: First Steps has been one of the most anticipated films of 2025. The cast has been making the media rounds, and the film is set to hit theaters on July 24.

Unfortunately, like in any movie, several clips are often cut ahead of release, and at times, actors find themselves being removed from a film altogether. That was the case for Fantastic Four, as respected actor John Malkovich saw his character removed.

Variety revealed the news, and director Matt Shakman addressed the decision to remove Malkovich's villain, calling it "heartbreaking not to include him."

John Malkovich during the 'Bitter Wheat' by David Mamet photocall.

Jeff Spicer/Getty Images

“There were a lot of things that ultimately ended up hitting the cutting room floor,” Shakman said. “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.”

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“It was heartbreaking not to include him in the final version of the movie because he’s one of my very favorite humans and one of my biggest inspirations,” the director said.

Malkovich, who was slated to portray Ivan Kragoff, aka the Red Ghost, was going to be one of the first villains the Fantastic Four faced in the new movie. Shakman said that Malkovich was "brilliant in it," according to Variety.

While the film is loaded with a star-studded cast and several high-profile characters, it's a tough result for the actor, who's been in the likes of Rounders, Con Air and In the Line of Fire, among many others.

Related: Colin Farrell Makes Honest Admission About 'The Penguin' After Emmy Nomination

'Fantastic Four: First Steps' Cuts John Malkovich From Movie first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 16, 2025

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