Latest news with #JohnMalkovich
Geek Tyrant
21 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
FANTASTIC FOUR Director Releases Scene Featuring The Thing on THE DATING GAME and Explains Missing Footage in the Film — GeekTyrant
The Fantastic Four: First Steps was a crowd-pleaser, but one gripe some fans voiced was the fact that some of the scenes, and even one character, we saw in the trailers were missing from the final film. While director Matt Shakman has already addressed the unfortunate necessity to cut John Malkovich's character from the film, and he is now talking about some of the other footage that fell to the cutting room floor. In a recent interview with Collider, Shakman explained the editing process for the film, and disclosed that they were working the footage while the movie was in production. He added, 'It helps you realize what you're shooting to edit as you go, down to, 'I'm missing a shot here. I need something else here, too. Oh, wow, this connection is so great. I need to do more of that or less of this.'' He went on to explain why they consciously wrote and filmed additional scenes that were ultimately left behind in the editing room. 'We intentionally wrote and shot a lot more than we ended up using or needing to use for their past. There's a ton of stuff that you've seen probably bits and pieces of — the tour of the Baxter Building or Reed's Mister Fantastic show, or even Ben on The Dating Game .' Shakman elaborated that they shot these scenes because they knew they needed to 'build a big world,' and 'explain what they've [the heroes] been doing for four years, because our movie started four years after that.' He stated that while they eventually didn't use it all, the fact they knew that they had more footage was 'helpful.' You can check out the Ben Grimm Dating Game footage below, which was reportedly developed as a proof of concept even before production started. It's a lot of fun, and we will hopefully get to see even more of it when the film is released to own. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is currently in theaters.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bad news for 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' — this legendary actor has been cut from the film
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" is only a mere week away, but the film's director just gave fans some "heartbreaking" news. 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. Could the loss of Malkovich's Red Ghost be better for the 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. '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. View Deal 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. I interviewed the cast of 'Foundation' season 3 — here's my 10 biggest takeaways for the upcoming season 'Murderbot' star David Dastmalchian talks about that season 1 twist and his hopes for season 2 I was worried about 'The Sandman' season 2 — but the first episode proved me wrong 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.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The first reactions for 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' are in — 'one of the best things Marvel has ever made'
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" comes out later this week, marking the next installment in the MCU, but early reactions are already in. Things haven't always gone smoothly for this production. This movie has been pushed back in the calendar multiple times and just last week it was revealed that director Matt Shakman removed John Malkovich's Red Ghost from the movie. But a select few already have now seen the movie at an exclusive Los Angeles premiere, and there's good news. The vast majority of social media reactions have been positive, with one person even going as far as to say it's visually " one of the best things Marvel has ever made" (h/t Brandon Davis on X). Full disclosure: Take these reactions with a grain of salt. While some critics are throwing their opinions in the mix, it's largely influencers, superfans and those most inclined to give the movie positive buzz who are posting these early reactions. There's nothing nefarious about it, but they also don't always represent the final critical or audience consensus around the film. So without further ado, here are some of the first reactions from the premiere of "The Fantastic Four: First Steps." 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' first reactions — 'a genre-defining classic' I know I just told you to temper expectations, but let's start with some potential hyperbole right out of the gate. "#FantasticFour Quite possibly the best Marvel Studios film ever released," writer George McKay unequivocally stated on X. "Thoughtfully crafted and easily a genre-defining classic." This streaming bundle deal is a total steal if you're looking to get both Disney Plus and Hulu on a budget. View Deal While not quite so declarative about the movie's standing in the MCU pantheon, People Magazine writer Sharareh Drury had plenty of praise for the film. "Stunning visuals, a moving story, witty banter and epic action," she declared. "Marvel's First Family delivers one awesome ride." Finally, let's wrap things up with my personal favorite. Content creator and actor Matt Ramos took to X to declare the movie's characters a delight. "The cast & their chemistry hold this film up," he posted. "Pedro delivered my favorite performance as Reed." And yet, for all that praise, the movie is merely a "Solid 8/10." Something about the shift from euphoric delight to tempered praise really summed things up neatly for me. I'm hopeful Marvel truly has hit the mark, but I'm keeping my expectations in check on this one. I'd gladly settle for "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" to be a solid eight out of 10. 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. I didn't like Ari Aster's black comedy starring Pedro Pascal and Joaquin Phoenix — but not for the reasons most people are hating it I interviewed the cast of 'Foundation' season 3 — here's my 10 biggest takeaways for the upcoming season 'Murderbot' star David Dastmalchian talks about that season 1 twist and his hopes for season 2
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Marvel cut Oscar-nominated John Malkovich's villain role from ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps': A brief explainer
No, you did not blink and miss it. John Malkovich will no longer appear in Marvel Studios' upcoming tentpole The Fantastic Four: First Steps, despite having filmed scenes as the villain Ivan Kragoff, also known as the Red Ghost. Director Matt Shakman confirmed the decision to cut the Emmy-winning/Oscar-nominated actor's scenes in an interview with Variety, citing the film's complex structure and need to keep focus. More from Gold Derby Here's why Scarlett Johansson is the newest global box-office champ 'Fantastic Four: First Steps': Everything to know about the return of Marvel's First Family 'There was a lot of stuff to balance in this movie, and some things had to go,' Shakman said. 'John is one of my favorite humans and one of my biggest inspirations. It was heartbreaking not to include him." Malkovich's scenes were part of the film's early sequence, which explored the Fantastic Four's first years as superheroes. A brief shot of Malkovich as the Red Ghost appeared in the first teaser trailer. '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," said Shakman. The Fantastic Four: First Steps opens July 25 and stars Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner, Vanessa Kirby, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. Red Ghost is an early adversary of the Fantastic Four in the comics, leading a team of super-powered apes against the heroes. He first appeared in issue No. 13 in 1963 and returned through the years. Befitting his name, Red Ghost was a Soviet scientist who had the power to become intangible and invisible. Malkovich had previously turned down offers to appear in Marvel films, but agreed to join The Fantastic Four to work again with Shakman, who directed him in the 2014 independent film Cut Bank. In a February interview with GQ, Malkovich explained his earlier reluctance to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. '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,' he said. '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.' After filming The Fantastic Four, Malkovich compared the experience to stage work. 'It's not that dissimilar to doing theater,' he said. 'You imagine a bunch of stuff that isn't there and do your little play.' Despite being cut from the final version, Shakman said he was honored to have worked with Malkovich again and praised his performance. 'John was brilliant in it, and gave it his all." Best of Gold Derby Everything to know about 'The Batman 2': Returning cast, script finalized Tom Cruise movies: 17 greatest films ranked worst to best 'It was wonderful to be on that ride': Christian Slater talks his beloved roles, from cult classics ('Heathers,' 'True Romance') to TV hits ('Mr. Robot,' 'Dexter: Original Sin') Click here to read the full article. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Fantastic Four' First Reactions Say Film Is One of the ‘Best Things Marvel Has Ever Made' With ‘Stunning Visuals' and ‘Excellent' Performances From Leading Cast
Marvel's 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' has been unveiled to members of the film press, and first reactions are praising the MCU epic as a 'visual feast' with 'snappy, confident storytelling.' Next Best Picture editor-in-chief Matt Neglia wrote on X that the Marvel tentpole lives up to its namesake of 'fantastic,' hailing the film's 'excellent' leading quartet and 'delightful' retro-futuristic aesthetic. More from Variety John Malkovich's Red Ghost Cut From 'Fantastic Four'; Director Says 'It Was Heartbreaking Not to Include Him' (EXCLUSIVE) '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' He wrote, 'Combined with Matt Shakman's snappy, confident storytelling, this is an intriguing & satisfying first step for Marvel's new team (easily the best depiction of this quartet on-screen to date) as the MCU continues to regain control of the ship & steer it closer to 'Doomsday.'' Entertainment journalist Brandon Davis also took to X to share his thoughts. He wrote that 'Fantastic Four' was one of the 'best things Marvel has ever done' and compared the visuals to those of Christopher Nolan's 'Interstellar.' 'Galactus is awesome. Silver Surfer looks really, really good. VFX were often immaculate,' Davis wrote. 'Cosmically and on Earth, Matt Shakman dropped a visual feast.' People staffer Sharareh Drury echoed the praise, writing on X that 'Fantastic Four' was 'breathtaking.' She gave particular kudos to Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby, who play MCU power couple Reed Richards and Susan Storm, respectively. 'Stunning visuals, a moving story, witty banter and epic action. Marvel's First Family delivers one awesome ride,' she wrote. 'Pedro Pascal nails it as Mr. Fantastic. Vanessa Kirby stands out as Sue Storm – she's a shooting star.' Rounding out the leading four alongside Pascal and Kirby are Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, aka Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm, aka The Thing. 'First Steps' follows the titular super squad as they defend Earth from the gargantuan planet-eating space tyrant Galactus. Matt Shakman directs with a script by Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson and Jeff Kaplan. Other cast members include Ralph Ineson, Julia Garner, Natasha Lyonne, Sarah Niles and Paul Walter Hauser. Variety exclusively reported that John Malkovich was originally set to appear in 'First Steps' as one of the Fantastic Four's earliest foes, Red Ghost, but was ultimately cut out of the film. Shakman said it was 'heartbreaking not to include him in the final version of the movie,' adding that he was 'honored' Malkovich had joined the project in the first place. '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 Fantastic Four: First Steps' hits theaters July 24. Check out more first reactions below. '#FantasticFour is a story about family above all else, where each member of the team is equally important. No one is underserved; the movie excels when fleshing out the various bonds between Pedro, Vanessa, Ebon, & Joseph. The retro '60s aesthetic works on all fronts.' – '#FantasticFour Is a masterpiece. the visual effects and the score are a HUGE stand out. Galactus Is huge In IMAX. It's emotional and gives you hope. It beats you off and doesn't stop. STAY Until the END CREDITS.' – Deo (@frickyuu) 'Fantastic Four friggin' rocks! More than any Marvel movie before it, F4 feels like Jack Kirby's imagination brought to life on the big screen. Between this and Superman, 2025 might go down as the year movies finally embrace the wonderful weirdness of comic books.' – Chris Killian (@chriskillian) 'Nothing will prepare you for #TheFantasticFour First Steps. Pedro Pascal is the perfect Reed, but the entire cast shines and does right by these characters. It's funny, moving, gorgeous to look at, and non-stop FANTASTIC. This is @MarvelStudios at its brilliant best.' – Josh Wilding (@Josh_Wilding) Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week '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 Solve the daily Crossword
