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AsiaOne
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
John Malkovich's scenes cut from The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Entertainment News
John Malkovich has been cut from The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The 71-year-old actor was set to appear in the new Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) blockbuster as villain Ivan Kragoff/Red Ghost but director Matt Shakman has revealed that his scenes didn't make the final cut as they didn't fit in with the story — which features Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn as the heroic ensemble. In an interview with Variety, the filmmaker said: "There were a lot of things that ultimately ended up hitting the cutting room floor. "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." Shakman had previously worked with Malkovich on his feature directorial debut Cut Bank in 2014 and said that it made the decision to omit the Con Air actor even more agonising. He said: "It was heartbreaking not to include him in the final version of the movie because he's one of my very favourite humans and one of my biggest inspirations. "As a person who walks the line between theatre and film and television, there's no one who is more inspiring than the founder of Steppenwolf Theatre Company. "What he's done on stage as an actor and what he's done as a director in theatre as well as in film, and as just a film actor of incredible ability — I was honoured he came to play." Malkovich revealed earlier this year that he has turned down several Marvel movies in the past because he didn't like the terms in the contracts that were on offer. He told GQ magazine: "The reason I didn't do them had nothing to do with any artistic considerations whatsoever. "I didn't like the deals they made at all. These films are quite gruelling to make… If you're going to hang from a crane in front of a green screen for six months, pay me. "You don't want to pay me, it's cool, but then I don't want to do it, because I'd rather be onstage, or be directing a play, or doing something else." The Burn After Reading star explained that he was shocked by the similarities between a Marvel production and being on stage when he decided to accept the part. Malkovich said: "It's not that dissimilar to doing theatre. You imagine a bunch of stuff that isn't there and do your little play." The actor even suggested that one of the most demanding roles of his career came when he voiced the character of Dr. Octavius Brine in the 2014 animated flick Penguins of Madagascar. He said: "One of the hardest things I've ever done was a film called Penguins of Madagascar, a children's film where I played an octopus. "And I must have recorded the entire thing, every line; at least a thousand variations of every line. "I never understood why it never occurred to them to maybe have a different line. And I did mention that more than occasionally." [[nid:720352]]
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
John Malkovich's Red Ghost scenes cut from The Fantastic Four: First Steps
John Malkovich has been cut from The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The 71-year-old actor was set to appear in the new Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) blockbuster as villain Ivan Kragoff/Red Ghost but director Matt Shakman has revealed that his scenes didn't make the final cut as they didn't fit in with the story – which features Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn as the heroic ensemble. In an interview with Variety, the filmmaker said: "There were a lot of things that ultimately ended up hitting the cutting room floor. "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." Shakman had previously worked with Malkovich on his feature directorial debut Cut Bank in 2014 and said that it made the decision to omit the Con Air actor even more agonising. He said: "It was heartbreaking not to include him in the final version of the movie because he's one of my very favourite humans and one of my biggest inspirations. "As a person who walks the line between theatre and film and television, there's no one who is more inspiring than the founder of Steppenwolf Theatre Company. "What he's done on stage as an actor and what he's done as a director in theatre as well as in film, and as just a film actor of incredible ability – I was honoured he came to play." Malkovich revealed earlier this year that he has turned down several Marvel movies in the past because he didn't like the terms in the contracts that were on offer. He told GQ magazine: "The reason I didn't do them had nothing to do with any artistic considerations whatsoever. "I didn't like the deals they made, at all. These films are quite gruelling to make… If you're going to hang from a crane in front of a green screen for six months, pay me. "You don't want to pay me, it's cool, but then I don't want to do it, because I'd rather be onstage, or be directing a play, or doing something else." The Burn After Reading star explained that he was shocked by the similarities between a Marvel production and being on stage when he decided to accept the part. Malkovich said: "It's not that dissimilar to doing theatre. You imagine a bunch of stuff that isn't there and do your little play." The actor even suggested that one of the most demanding roles of his career came when he voiced the character of Dr. Octavius Brine in the 2014 animated flick Penguins of Madagascar. He said: "One of the hardest things I've ever done was a film called Penguins of Madagascar, a children's film where I played an octopus. "And I must have recorded the entire thing, every line; at least a thousand variations of every line. "I never understood why it never occurred to them to maybe have a different line. And I did mention that more than occasionally."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
John Malkovich's Red Ghost Cut From ‘Fantastic Four'; Director Says ‘It Was Heartbreaking Not to Include Him' (EXCLUSIVE)
The Red Ghost has escaped! Actor John Malkovich will no longer appear in Marvel Studios' 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' as Ivan Kragoff, aka the Red Ghost, one of the earliest villains to battle the superhero quartet in the comics. Director Matt Shakman confirmed the decision to cut Malkovich out of the movie in a wide ranging interview with Variety about his career and his experience making the film. More from Variety 'Fantastic Four,' Assemble: Director Matt Shakman on Casting Marvel's First Family Without Auditions and 'Corporate Pressures' Not Being 'My Burden to Shoulder' Mark Gatiss on His New Series 'Bookish,' the 'Romance of Crime' and Not Having to Worry About Spoiling 'Fantastic Four' Tom Holland Says 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' Will Go Back to 'Old School Filmmaking and Shoot in Real Locations' After COVID Restricted 'No Way Home' to Soundstages Malkovich's scenes came early in 'The Fantastic Four,' part of a lengthy sequence detailing the titular family's early years as superheroes, including when they battled the Red Ghost and his team of Super-Apes. The first teaser trailer for the movie even includes a brief shot of Malkovich in character, and Shakman said the actor 'was brilliant in it, and gave it his all.' But the need to service an extensive cast that includes Pedro Pascal (as Reed Richards), Vanessa Kirby (as Sue Storm), Joseph Quinn (as Johnny Storm), Ebon Moss-Bachrach (as Ben Grimm), Julia Garner (as the Silver Surfer) and Ralph Ineson (as Galactus) — as well a story that begins years into the Fantastic Four's superhero lives, as Reed and Sue welcome their first child — led the filmmakers to realize that Malkovich's appearance wasn't working with the full story. 'There were a lot of things that ultimately ended up hitting the cutting room floor,' Shakman said. '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.' The director first worked with Malkovich on his feature debut, the 2014 independent crime thriller 'Cut Bank,' which co-starred Liam Hemsworth, Teresa Palmer, Bruce Dern, Billy Bob Thornton and Michael Stuhlbarg. Shakman — who spent the 2000s and 2010s building a successful directing career in theater and in television — struggled for years to put together financing on the film, but he said that once Malkovich signed on, the actor 'stuck with it for several years and never dropped out.' The experience on 'Cut Bank' made losing Malkovich from 'The Fantastic Four' that much more difficult for Shakman. 'It was heartbreaking not to include him in the final version of the movie because he's one of my very favorite humans and one of my biggest inspirations,' the director said. 'As a person who walks the line between theater and film and television, there's no one who is more inspiring than the founder of Steppenwolf Theater Company. What he's done on stage as an actor and what he's done as a director in theater as well as in film, and as just a film actor of incredible ability — I was honored he came to play.' Other actors still set to appear in 'The Fantastic Four' include Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, Mark Gatiss and Sarah Niles. The film's world premiere is on July 21 in Los Angeles, and it will open in theaters on July 25. Best of Variety 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples Oscars 2026: George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Roberts, Wagner Moura and More Among Early Contenders to Watch Solve the daily Crossword
Geek Tyrant
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
John Malkovich's Red Ghost Cut From THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS - "It Was Heartbreaking Not to Include Him" — GeekTyrant
Marvel Studios' upcoming The Fantastic Four: First Steps nearly had an appearance from one of the team's oldest comic book villains, and it would have been played by none other than John Malkovich. Director Matt Shakman confirmed in a recent interview with Variety that Malkovich's scenes as Ivan Kragoff, aka the Red Ghost, didn't make the final cut. Malkovich filmed scenes early in the movie as part of a sequence exploring the team's early days, which included a battle with the Red Ghost and his Super-Apes. Fans even caught a glimpse of him in the teaser trailer. 'He was brilliant in it, and gave it his all,' Shakman said. So what happened? According to Shakman, the decision came down to story balance. 'There were a lot of things that ultimately ended up hitting the cutting room floor,' Shakman explained. '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.' Cutting Malkovich was especially painful for the director as the two first worked together on Shakman's feature debut, Cut Bank (2014), and the director still credits the actor for helping get that indie film made. 'It was heartbreaking not to include him in the final version of the movie because he's one of my very favorite humans and one of my biggest inspirations,' he said. 'As a person who walks the line between theater and film and television, there's no one who is more inspiring than the founder of Steppenwolf Theater Company. What he's done on stage as an actor and what he's done as a director in theater as well as in film, and as just a film actor of incredible ability — I was honored he came to play.' Malkovich has been turning down Marvel films for years, and he previously explained why syaing: 'The reason I didn't do them had nothing to do with any artistic considerations whatsoever. I didn't like the deals they made, at all. 'These films are quite grueling to make… If you're going to hang from a crane in front of a green screen for six months, pay me. You don't want to pay me, it's cool, but then I don't want to do it, because I'd rather be onstage, or be directing a play, or doing something else.' The only reason he signed on for Fantastic Four was for Shakman, and now that they finally got him, they are cutting him. There's no way he's coming back for another one. While Malkovich won't appear, the ensemble still boasts a strong cast including Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm, Julia Garner as the Silver Surfer, and Ralph Ineson as Galactus. it also includes like Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, Mark Gatiss, and Sarah Niles. The Fantastic Four: First Steps premieres July 21 in Los Angeles and hits theaters July 25.
Gizmodo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
John Malkovich Won't Appear in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps'
We're sure to see a lot of awesome stuff when The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters later this month, but one thing we won't see is John Malkovich. The legendary star of Being John Malkovich, Con Air, Rounders, Red, and more was cast in the film and shot all his scenes. But, it turns out, those scenes have now been cut. Speaking to Variety, Fantastic Four director Matt Shakman revealed that Malkovich was cast to play the Red Ghost in the film, one of the group's oldest adversaries. He was seen early on in a montage of scenes explaining the team's origins and early adventures. However, it seems, as the editing moved along, that had to go. 'There were a lot of things that ultimately ended up hitting the cutting room floor,' Shakman told the trade. '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.' It was a decision Shakman didn't come to lightly. 'It was heartbreaking not to include him in the final version of the movie because he's one of my very favorite humans and one of my biggest inspirations,' he said. 'As a person who walks the line between theater and film and television, there's no one who is more inspiring than the founder of Steppenwolf Theater Company. What he's done on stage as an actor and what he's done as a director in theater as well as in film, and as just a film actor of incredible ability—I was honored he came to play.' Maybe we'll see Malkovich's Red Ghost, who apparently appeared alongside a team of Super Apes, when Fantastic Four is released digitally. For now, though, you can only see him in the film's first teaser trailer, released back in February. Here it is. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
