A Classic Villain Has Been Cut From ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’

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John Malkovich has been cut from The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

The 71-year-old actor was initially planned to play the villain Ivan Kragoff/Red Ghost in the upcoming Marvel movie, but unfortunately, his scenes were not included in the final version of the film. Director Matt Shakman explained that these scenes didn’t align with the storyline, which centers around Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn as the main heroes.

During an interview with Variety, the director expressed that numerous elements wound up being removed from the final edit.

In the process of creating a world that blended 60s retro aesthetics with a futuristic vision, we had quite a challenge on our hands when it came to developing the villains, the main characters as both a collective and individual entities, and the concept of a child character. Managing all these elements while also shaping the overall narrative for the final cut of the movie required some tough decisions about what elements could be omitted.

As a devoted cinephile, I’ve got to share an interesting tidbit from my film-related experiences. Back in 2014, I had the privilege of collaborating with John Malkovich on my directorial debut, “Cut Bank.” Working with such a seasoned actor was truly enriching. However, when it came time to make decisions for my latest project, the thought of not including him was absolutely excruciating, given our previous success together.

He expressed: “It was deeply sad not to have him featured in the final cut of the movie, as he is one of my most cherished people and a significant source of inspiration. Being someone who navigates the boundary between theater, film, and television, there’s no one more inspiring than the founder of Steppenwolf Theatre Company. His exceptional work as an actor on stage and as a director in both theater and film, as well as his remarkable performances in films – it was a privilege to have him participate.

Earlier this year, Malkovich shared that he declined multiple Marvel films in the past due to unfavorable contract conditions.

He shared with GQ magazine: “The lack of my participation in those projects was not due to any artistic reasons at all. I found the deals offered unappealing, to put it mildly. Making these films is extremely challenging… if you’re going to spend half a year suspended from a crane in front of a green screen, then compensate me accordingly.

If you’re not planning to compensate me, that’s alright, but since my preference lies in performing on stage, directing plays, or engaging in other activities, I’m not inclined to participate.

In his own words, the role that presented one of the greatest challenges during his acting career was when he gave voice to the character Dr. Octavius Brine in the 2014 animated movie “Penguins of Madagascar.

In his own words, he shared: “One of the most challenging projects I’ve tackled was a children’s film named Penguins of Madagascar, where I brought an octopus to life. I had to record the entire script, every single line; at least a thousand different takes for each line. It often puzzled me why they didn’t consider changing some lines, and I expressed this concern more than once.

The Worst Performances in Marvel Movies

Zawe Ashton, The Marvels

To give Zawe Ashton her due, even the legendary Laurence Olivier might have struggled to add depth to a role like Dar-Benn, a vengeful alien ruler who holds Captain Marvel responsible for the annihilation of her planet. Essentially, she’s defined by her bitterness and a powerful cosmic bracelet. Despite the superficiality and formulaic nature of Dar-Benn’s motivations in the film, Ashton didn’t fail to try and breathe fresh life into a character type that we’ve seen multiple times in Marvel movies before.

Gemma Chan, Eternals

The tender love story between Gemma Chan’s character Sersi and Richard Madden’s Ikaris should be the emotional heart of “Eternals,” but their connection falls flat, even during their much-anticipated love scene, which was a groundbreaking moment for Marvel Studios. Unfortunately, this lackluster portrayal of passion extends to the entire film, and it seems that both lead performances also fail to captivate. (I’m stretching my imagination here, but perhaps the Eternals being ancient cosmic beings might explain their apparent inexperience with romance? This is the best explanation I can come up with.) In essence, “Eternals” as a whole could be described as lifeless.

Russell Crowe, Thor: Love and Thunder

Similar to how tales of the powerful Norse deity Thor have been passed down through time, stories about Russell Crowe’s eccentric portrayal of Zeus in this movie will likely be shared in future generations. People might find it hard to believe, but they will speak of its legend. It is said that Crowe was determined to use a broad Greek accent for Zeus, while director Taika Waititi wasn’t keen on the idea. To ensure there were no issues, Crowe recorded his scenes twice: once with the exaggerated Greek accent and once using a more conventional British accent. In an interview, Waititi shared that “audience tests loved the Greek accent” and he was “very satisfied” with the final product. I guess we can disagree on this; I found Crowe’s accent work so over-the-top it made the “Cheezborger! Cheezborger!” characters from the old Saturday Night Live sketch seem understated by comparison.

Christopher Eccleston, Thor: The Dark World

One reason “Thor: The Dark World” is often criticized within the Marvel Cinematic Universe is due to its lack of an engaging antagonist. The villain in this film, Malekith, a Dark Elf seeking one of the Infinity Stones, might not have made watching the movie any more enjoyable for you. However, if you found “Thor: The Dark World” difficult to get through, you can only imagine how challenging it was for those involved in its production. This sentiment is echoed by Christopher Eccleston, the actor who portrayed Malekith, as he described the experience as akin to pointing a gun at his own head. “I paid dearly for being a sellout during those times,” Eccleston told The Guardian, and it seems audiences did too.

Richard Madden, Eternals

Caution: The character Ikaris from Eternals seems to be the bravest and most determined hero of the team, but in reality, he’s secretly working against them. His goal is to bring about the birth of a Celestial on Earth, which would lead to the destruction of all other life forms on the planet. Despite being a clichéd character type, the role was given new life by Richard Madden’s acting. However, his portrayal of Ikaris is as wooden as a block that can shoot lasers – perhaps an intentional choice that didn’t quite work out?
Over the course of just a few scenes, Ikaris attempts to thwart his teammates, kills one in a flashback, then decides to help them only to take his own life by flying into the sun. Throughout all these scenes, Madden’s expression remains as unchanging as a blank canvas. And it’s worth mentioning that there’s no spark between him and Gemma Chan. No need for a spoiler alert here, as this observation stands independently.

Guy Pearce, Iron Man 3

Fans of Marvel were upset when director Shane Black transformed the character who seemed to be the MCU’s Mandarin – Iron Man’s classic comic book villain – into a laughable buffoon, a struggling actor portraying a stereotypical Middle Eastern terrorist. I found this an intriguing twist; why not surprise the audience by giving them something they wouldn’t anticipate? The major issue was that the “true” Mandarin, played by Guy Pearce, was precisely what we’d expect from an Iron Man villain in the previous films: A money-hungry capitalist seeking revenge on Tony Stark for thwarting his schemes. Moreover, instead of one of the comics’ intriguing Mandarin designs, they made Pearce’s Mandarin a man in slacks without a shirt, sporting hideous chest tattoos. Despite being one of my favorite actors, Pearce seems to embody his dissatisfaction through those poorly designed tattoos.

Bill Murray, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Is it plausible to consider whether Bill Murray has ever watched a Marvel film in his lifetime? His performance as the peculiar character Krylar in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ seemed incredibly incongruous. Krylar is said to be an essential inhabitant of the quantum realm, but Murray portrayed him as a strange eccentric and flirt instead. After a brief appearance on screen, his character disappeared from the movie entirely, leading one to ponder if other scenes involving Krylar were deleted due to being superfluous, or if Murray was perhaps unclear about his role’s requirements. Regardless, it seems unlikely that we will see Krylar reappearing in ‘Ant-Man 4: Yes, But This Time He Shrinks Down Even More’.

Will Poulter, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

In the highly anticipated cast of “Guardians Vol. 3”, the character generating the most buzz prior to its release is Adam Warlock, played by Will Poulter. Known for his exceptional acting skills, fans were eagerly anticipating a significant role for Warlock, given his prominence in Marvel comics, particularly during the original “Infinity Gauntlet” series. However, comic book enthusiasts who expected a substantial screen presence for Warlock may have been left disappointed as he was relegated to a minor character in “Guardians Vol. 3”, primarily serving as a source of humor that fell short, according to Poulter’s portrayal.

Mickey Rourke, Iron Man 2

Mickey Rourke leveraged his career resurgence and an Oscar nomination in “The Wrestler” by accepting the prominent role of Whiplash in “Iron Man 2”. However, the profound psychological depth and somber melancholy that Rourke infused into Randy the Ram were absent when he appeared as Whiplash. Instead, his character was marked by an over-the-top Russian accent, various mannerisms, and a fondness for birds, which seemed more like a caricature than a complex villain. Despite Whiplash’s declared hatred for Tony Stark’s father for stealing the concept of the original arc reactor, Rourke played his quest for revenge with as much emotional intensity as someone who has just woken up from a long nap.

Sylvester Stallone, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

In his time at Marvel, James Gunn oversaw some outstanding performances across the entire MCU, both from human and raccoon actors. However, occasionally in the Guardians films, secondary or even tertiary characters felt like they were added without much purpose. For instance, the introduction of a new team of Guardians in “Guardians Vol. 2” seemed unnecessary, as it only existed because these characters appeared in Marvel Comics. This included Sylvester Stallone, who played Starhawk. One might wonder what Rocky Balboa was doing in outer space? His presence added little to the movie. The familiar face of Sylvester Stallone amidst a cosmic adventure felt more like a distraction than anything else. The phrase “less is more” comes to mind when considering this cameo, as it demonstrates that “more is less.

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2025-07-17 15:56