The Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman revealed that John Malkovich's scenes have been removed from the film's final cut.
Last year, it was announced that the Oscar-nominated veteran actor had joined the cast of the highly anticipated MCU film. At that time, the details of his role were under wraps. Unfortunately, it looks like fans will no longer see him when they watch the film on the big screen.
Is John Malkovich Still Appearing in The Fantastic Four: First Steps?
Speaking with Variety, Shakman confirmed that Malkovich's scenes in The Fantastic Four: First Steps have been removed from the final cut.
He was originally supposed to play Red Ghost and was part of a lengthy sequence that showed the First Family's early years as superheroes.
"There were a lot of things that ultimately ended up hitting the cutting room floor. 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," the director explained.
"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."
Shakman noted that Malkovich "was brilliant in it, and gave it his all," and he was heartbroken that he had to make the decision.
"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," he said.
"As a person who walks the line between theater and film and television, there’s no one who is more inspiring than the founder of Steppenwolf Theater Company. What he’s done on stage as an actor and what he’s done as a director in theater as well as in film, and as just a film actor of incredible ability — I was honored he came to play."
What to Expect in The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel’s First Family (Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ben Grimm/The Thing) as they face their most daunting challenge yet.
The cast includes Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ralph Ineson, Julia Garner, Paul Walter Hauser, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Niles.
Unlike the previous iterations, the MCU film will embrace the comic book origins of the characters and the retro-future aesthetic, making it unique from the other installments.
"There’s a lot of pressure in wanting to do right by the characters, wanting to do right by [Jack] Kirby and [Stan] Lee, wanting to do right by all of the amazing comic writers who have been a part of developing this over the last 60-plus years," Shakman said.
What do you think of their decision to remove Malkovich's scenes? Let us know in the comments.
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