John Malkovich Cut From Superhero Movie
John Malkovich’s role in The Fantastic Four: First Steps isn’t in the final cut of the completed Marvel film, but the actor has a good movie on HBO Max you may have missed called Opus.
So much for seeing John Malkovich’s Ivan Kragoff (The Red Ghost) in the upcoming The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Marvel’s latest movie has cut the actor from the final proceedings. Matt Shakman, the film’s director, feels bad, but things had to be done to preserve the artistic integrity of the new picture. Malkovich’s villainous role didn’t fit the tone of the movie in a proper way, according to sources. As of now, the movie which is enjoying early praise from first screenings, feels like its going to be lighter than what it would have been had Malkovich’s role made the final cut.
The Red Ghost and his “Super Apes” won’t be a part of the forthcoming superhero film due out next week, but with a cast that includes the likes of Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby and Julia Garner, Malkovich’s presence may not be missed too much. Instead, fans should check out the actor’s great turn in a film which our website, FilmBook, recently praised: Opus. In that film, Malkovich goes all out in a Hannibal Lecter-type of psychotic role which was tailor-made for an actor of Malkovich’s tremendously versatile abilities. Opus is currently available to stream on HBO Max and features Ayo Edebiri and a very creepy Amber Midthunder.
While Shakman believes Malkovich was brilliant in the part which was cut out of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the controversy and box-office disappointment of Opus didn’t help the situation much. Opus divided audiences across the board with its scary story line about a journalist (Edebiri) in way over her head with a psycho (Malkovich). It would have been interesting to see if the A24 horror film, Opus, was a big box-office hit if Malkovich still would have been snipped out of The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
In any event, the legendary Malkovich was always a brilliant baddie. From In the Line of Fire, a great 1993 Clint Eastwood political action movie, and on, he appeared in big blockbusters as well as smaller independent films throughout his distinguished career. I think it would be nice to see his work from The Fantastic Four: First Steps in deleted scenes on a Blu Ray or something in that vein. It would be even nicer if you guys could show Malkovich some love by checking him out in Opus, a movie that deserved more popularity than it received at the box-office. It is currently being streamed successfully by curious Malkovich fans and has become much more of a curiosity piece since it started on HBO Max.
Malkovich previously worked with Shakman on a small film called Cut Bank. Shakman is heartbroken losing Malkovich from the final cut of the new Fantastic Four, but the show must go on, as always. It looks like Natasha Lyonne is safe from elimination and should be in the new superhero picture opening next week.
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