THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Director Matt Shakman Reveals How John Malkovich Would Have Been Used — GeekTyrant
Of course, the superheroes can't have this, and they start to brainstorm a plan to defeat the Devourer of Worlds that keeps baby Franklin safe.
Actor John Malkovich was originally in the film as an additional villain, but his scene(s) was scrapped at the last minute. A writer for CBR was able to visit the set of the film last year, and they said that Malkovich was originally part of the scene in which Reed Richards is working with other cities to activate the 'bridges' they built to transport Earth to another location undetectable to Galactus.
Malkovich's Red Ghost would have been the character to intervene in the first draft, but director Matt Shakman confirmed the reason his character was removed.
When asked at the film's press day if Red Ghost was originally supposed to take out the bridges in this pivotal scene, Shakman shared:
'There was, yeah, we had a different idea of how those bridges could go awry early on. And then, when we were putting the film together, it just made more sense to have the Surfer come back. It stayed more on story with the antagonist we knew, and were spending the most time with.'
I think this seems like the more streamlined way to go, but it's too bad that an actor as great Malkovich was the one to get the boot.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is playing everywhere in theaters now.
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