Bad news for 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' — this legendary actor has been cut from the film
In an interview with Variety, director Matt Shakman dropped the bombshell that John Malkovich's performance as Red Ghost was being cut from the movie entirely.
'It was heartbreaking not to include him in the final version of the movie," Shackman said in the interview. "He's one of my very favorite humans and one of my biggest inspirations."
For those who are unfamiliar with Red Ghost, his real name is Ivan Kragoff and he was a Soviet scientist who trained a team of Super-Apes to try and claim Earth's moon for the Soviet Union. He's one of the earliest villains to battle the superhero quartet in the comics, first appearing in "Fantastic Four" No. 13 by Jack Kirby.
Malkovich's portrayal of the villain was meant to pay homage to this early appearance. He and his Super-Apes were part of a long sequence early in the film detailing Marvel's first family in their early years as superheroes. But despite Shakman calling the performance "brilliant," the director ultimately left Malkovich's scenes on the cutting room floor — though you can still get a glimpse of him at the 1:19 mark in the first teaser trailer for the upcoming MCU movie.
Ultimately, it sounds like Shakman made the right call, cutting Malkovich's performance from the film. Yes, it hurt my soul to type those words, but by Shakman's own account, the extended sequence Malkovich's appearance was in didn't really serve the film.
'There were a lot of things that ultimately ended up hitting the cutting room floor,' Shakman told Variety in the same interview in which he revealed Malkovich's omission from the movie.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
'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 — 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.
This streaming bundle deal is a total steal if you're looking to get both Disney Plus and Hulu on a budget.
Bloat doesn't work for any film, and certainly not Marvel ones. It's no coincidence that one of the best-reviewed Marvel films in recent memory, "Thunderbolts*," was also one of the leanest. So hopefully, this only bodes well for "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," even if we do miss out on an incredible performance from a legendary actor.
Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made.
Here's what he's been watching lately:
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Los Angeles Times
an hour ago
- Los Angeles Times
Disney Jr. is expanding its preschool universe with ‘Marvel's Avengers: Mightiest Friends'
The Avengers will soon be assembling for a much younger demographic. Disney Jr. plans to expand its collaboration with Marvel, announcing a new series launching in 2027 titled 'Marvel's Avengers: Mightiest Friends.' It's a partnership that began in 2021 when Disney Jr. premiered 'Spidey and His Amazing Friends,' the first full-length Marvel preschool series, and has expanded to include the upcoming 'Iron Man and His Awesome Friends.' 'Disney Jr. are the pros at this age group,' says Brad Winderbaum, head of Marvel Studios television and animation. ''Spidey and His Amazing Friends' was our first shot at giving little kids a front-row seat to the Marvel Universe.' Currently in its fourth season with two additional seasons already greenlit, 'Spidey' has been wildly successful. It's the first Disney Jr. series to run for more than five seasons and is the second most popular streaming series (after 'Bluey') for children ages 2 to 5, according to Nielsen. 'The success of 'Spidey' really confirmed we were onto something and proved the demand for superhero stories designed specifically for this age group,' says Alyssa Sapire, head of original programming and strategy at Disney Jr. 'It fueled this broader strategy with Disney Jr. and Marvel.' There's the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and now there will be the Marvel Preschool Universe. 'Marvel's Avengers: Mightiest Friends' will feature kid versions of all the MCU characters including Spidey, Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Black Panther, Thor and, for the first time, Black Widow. 'Avengers are the ultimate learning to play nice story,' Winderbaum says. 'It's endless fun to watch Thor, Widow, Hulk and Cap learn about teamwork. That's always a fundamental lesson for that group whether it's in the features or the animated shows.' Young viewers will get a sneak peek of what's to come with two 'Marvel's Spidey and Iron Man: Avengers Team Up!' specials. The first 22-minute special premieres Oct. 16 and finds Spidey, Iron Man and all the Avengers stopping Ultron and Green Goblin from their nefarious plans. Another special, this one Halloween-themed, will debut in fall 2026. 'These characters are so timeless and have appealed to audiences across generations,' says Harrison Wilcox, who executive produces all the Marvel preschool series. 'What is most important to us is to tell fun, relatable, positive stories that families can enjoy together.' To that end, next up for Disney Jr. and Marvel is 'Iron Man and His Awesome Friends' which will premiere Aug. 11 on Disney Jr. and stream on Disney+ on Aug. 12. Tony Stark and his alter ego, Iron Man, were the natural choice for the next MCU character to get the preschool treatment. ''Iron Man' was the film that launched our studio,' Winderbaum says. 'We love the idea that a young audience who wasn't around in 2008 can be introduced to Marvel through a character at the core of Marvel history.' This series finds Tony Stark (Iron Man) and his best friends Riri Williams (Ironheart) and Amadeus Cho (Iron Hulk) working together to solve problems, like a villain intent on stealing everyone's toys. 'Tony Stark is very relatable and aspirational,' says Wilcox. 'He didn't stop until he found a way to protect the entire universe. We wanted three kids that were distinct from each other but also shared some certain qualities. They're all very intelligent. They're all tech savvy. They all want to use their brains to make the world better.' The trio works out of Iron Quarters (IQ) with Vision as their de facto supervisor. 'We thought it would be nice to have someone who could sort of act as the caretaker of our kids,' Wilcox says of including the beloved android in the series. 'We wanted our audience to know that these characters were loved and supported. Even though they have superpowers, someone's looking out for them.' Each superhero also brings something new for the young audience to connect to. One thing that will separate the upcoming 'Iron Man' series from 'Spidey' is that Iron Man doesn't have a secret identity. Everyone knows Tony Stark is Iron Man. 'We saw there was this differentiation we could really lean into,' Sapire says. 'They're real kids who use their ingenuity and smarts for the good of the community.' When bringing these characters to the under 5 set, every detail matters. 'Even in this Marvel superhero space, we're always tapping into that preschool experience,' Sapire says. 'We take the responsibility to entertain naturally curious preschoolers very seriously. When we have their attention, we want to honor that time with them with stories that inspire their imaginations and bring that sense of joy and optimism.' They approach the legendary Marvel villains with care as well. 'Iron Man' features Ultron (voiced by Tony Hale), Swarm (Vanessa Bayer) and Absorbing Man (Talon Warburton). 'You have to make sure the villain is not sympathetic,' Wilcox says. 'But also not frightening. We rely heavily on our partners at Disney Jr. for that and their educational resource group, which provides us a lot of feedback to make sure our preschool audience is engaged in the story and they feel the stakes of the story, but they are still watching in a comfortable space.' While all the series remain true to the overall MCU, they don't get too tied up in what is and isn't canon. 'These shows are about what makes each character tick, more than the lore that surrounds them,' Winderbaum explains. And, like in the movies, the superheroes will make mistakes. 'Marvel does not put their characters up on a pedestal,' Wilcox says. 'We want our characters to reflect real people in the real world. So that's always been important to us is that there's a certain level of relatability. Everyone can see a part of themselves in a Marvel hero and learn and grow just like our characters do.'
Hypebeast
2 hours ago
- Hypebeast
Disney to Phase Out Hulu App, Fully Integrate into Disney+
Summary In a move that signals a new chapter for its streaming strategy,Disneyhas announced that the standaloneHuluapp will be phased out and fully integrated intoDisney+in 2026. This decision, revealed during the company's quarterly earnings call, aims to create a 'unified app experience' that combines Disney's premium brands with Hulu's general entertainment, all under one roof. This consolidation follows Disney's recent acquisition of NBCUniversal's remaining stake in Hulu, giving the media giant full control over the streaming service. While the Hulu app will eventually cease to exist, Disney has clarified that consumers will still be able to purchase a standalone subscription to either Disney+ or Hulu. However, both services will be accessible through the same unified Disney+ app, with content availability based on the subscriber's chosen plan. The integration is not limited to the U.S. market. Disney has also confirmed that the Hulu brand will replace the Star tile on Disney+ internationally this fall. This move positions Hulu as Disney's global general entertainment brand, expanding its reach and brand recognition to a worldwide audience. The Star tile, which currently houses content from Disney-owned studios like FX and 20th Century Studios, will now be under the more recognizable Hulu banner. According to Disney CEO Bob Iger and CFO Hugh Johnston, this full integration is a long-term play to 'enhance our ability to continue to grow profitability and margins.' By consolidating the services onto a single tech platform, Disney expects to see lower operational costs, higher user engagement, and a reduction in subscriber churn. This new, streamlined approach will also create more opportunities for advertising revenue and new bundles, allowing for greater pricing flexibility in the future. The decision to merge Hulu and Disney+ is a clear signal of the ongoing consolidation in the streaming industry, as companies seek to create comprehensive, all-in-one platforms to compete with market leaders. For Disney, this means a singular destination for content ranging from Marvel andStar Warsto family programming, news, live sports (with the upcoming ESPN DTC app), and Hulu's extensive library of general entertainment.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘South Park' Mocks a Puppy-Shooting Kristi Noem and JD Vance Offers to Rub Baby Oil on Satan In Wild New Episode
In the second episode of 'South Park' Season 27, United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem leads ICE in a raid on the local production of 'Dora the Explorer Live!' After losing his job as counselor of South Park Elementary, Mr. Mackey is out of options to make his monthly 'nut,' which adds up to $8,000 a month. His banker suggests he join ICE, which offers a '$100,000 salary' and a '$50,000 signing bonus.' More from Variety 'South Park' Is So Effective at Mocking Trump Because It Mastered His Own Brand of Insult Comedy U.S. Homeland Security Is Now Using 'South Park' to Promote ICE's Website Amid the Show's Takedown of Donald Trump Spike Lee, Adam McKay and 2,300 More WGA Members Sign Letter Blasting Trump's 'Authoritarian Assault' on Free Speech After some brief deliberation, Mackey heads to ICE HQ. They let him join without a second thought and shuffle him into a room for an orientation video featuring none Noem, who is now their leader. 'Welcome to the team, recruits. I'm Kristi Noem, head of Homeland Security,' she says. 'A few years ago, I had to put my puppy down by shooting it in the face, because sometimes doing what's important means doing what's hard.' The video then hard cuts to Noem jumping out of an ICE vehicle and gunning down an innocent puppy in the street. 'Now, we'll ask the same determination of you. Because detaining and questioning people is never easy,' she adds, before the video cuts to Noem shooting another puppy. After his orientation, Mackey goes to raid a location 'that might be filled with Illegals': a local production of 'Dora the Explorer Live!' As Mackey and Noem bust into the theater, the audience scrambles in panic. Noem tries to calm the crowd. 'We're just here for questioning. Cooperate, and nothing bad– holy shit!' Noem screams, before spotting a service dog in the crowd and shooting it. Mackey does such a good job with ICE that Noem sends him to Mar-a-Lago, where Donald Trump is waiting with a toddler-sized JD Vance. After Trump names Mackey the new head of Homeland Security, he brings the former school counselor to his room for a threesome with himself and Satan. The babyfied Vance offers to lend a hand, 'Would you like me to apply the baby oil to Satan's asshole, boss?' Even before it was released, ICE took notice of Wednesday's show. The X account for the United States Department of Homeland Security used a still from the episode's teaser to promote ICE's website, which includes application portals for various agency roles like criminal investigator and deportation officer. The official 'South Park' X account responded to the post by writing, 'Wait, so we ARE relevant? #eatabagofdicks.' The retort from 'South Park' references the White House's response to the Season 27 premiere, in which they claimed the show 'hasn't been relevant for 20 years.' 'The Left's hypocrisy truly has no end – for years they have come after 'South Park' for what they labeled as 'offense' content, but suddenly they are praising the show,' White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in a statement to Variety following the Season 27 premiere. 'Just like the creators of 'South Park,' the Left has no authentic or original content, which is why their popularity continues to hit record lows.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in August 2025 What's Coming to Netflix in August 2025
