Fantastic Four: First Steps Character May Be Cut Even After Appearing in Trailer

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In a recent development, it has been noted that John Malkovich was initially cast in a mystery role for the film “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” as suggested by the first teaser trailer. However, some speculate that he may no longer be part of the movie’s final cut. Interestingly, an article on The Walt Disney Company’s official website celebrating the release of the last trailer for “First Steps” does not list Malkovich among the cast members. While actors like Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach are mentioned, so are Ralph Ineson and Julia Garner who portray the film’s villains.

The action-adventure movie additionally features Paul Walter Hauser, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Niles, according to Disney’s write-up. This concludes the listing of cast members, as the article proceeds to discuss the team behind the scenes, which includes director Matt Shakman and producer Kevin Feige.

In May 2024, John Malkovich became part of the cast for “Fantastic Four: First Steps.” Since specifics about his character were never disclosed, Marvel enthusiasts pondered who the Academy Award nominee might portray. Some speculated that he could be Dr. Franklin Storm, Nathaniel Richards, or Red Ghost. However, a quick sneak peek of Malkovich in the “First Steps” teaser trailer released this February did not offer any definitive clues.

Leading up to the premiere in July, Malkovich has generally been reserved about the enigmatic part he plays in “Fantastic Four”. Notably, he’s only spoken out about his past refusal of Marvel films due to insufficient compensation. His decision to join “First Steps” was partly driven by his eagerness to work with Shakman once more, as they had previously collaborated on the movie “Cut Bank”.

It’s surprising to find John Malkovich not included among the cast of Disney’s “First Steps” on their official website, given his recognizable status. Even if his part is minor, studios usually promote well-known actors like him. It’s plausible that his scenes were removed from the final cut due to changes in the movie. Films like “First Steps” often undergo revisions, and sequences once deemed important might no longer be required. With the filmmakers of “Fantastic Four” being silent about Malkovich’s role, it’s hard to make assumptions, but it seems reasonable to suspect that if he was in the movie, Disney would have listed him along with the other actors.

It’s noticeable that since the first glimpse of John Malkovich in the First Steps teaser trailer, there hasn’t been any further mention or visual of him in the promotional materials for the film. Despite Disney releasing a vast amount of promotional content over the past few months, opportunities to delve deeper into Malkovich’s role have been missed. Instead, the emphasis has been on presenting the Fantastic Four team, emphasizing the danger of Galactus, and familiarizing viewers with the movie’s 1960s-inspired retro-futuristic environment. When Malkovich was featured in the teaser trailer, it seemed as though Marvel was setting up his character and would expand on it in subsequent trailers or commercials. However, there has been radio silence regarding his role, and one might easily forget that Malkovich was apparently part of First Steps. It will be intriguing to see how this unfolds when the movie is released next month.

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2025-06-27 17:40