Very few actors have had as versatile a career as veteran thespian John Malkovich. Now, according to recent reports, it appears that he can add the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to his cap. Malkovich will seemingly be joining The Fantastic Four cast in a yet undisclosed role. Predictably, there is much speculation on what that role can be. Given his filmography, some believe that he is playing a villain.
Is John Malkovich playing an MCU villain in The Fantastic Four cast?
In his nearly five-decade-long career, Malkovich has accumulated a diverse portfolio. From Places in the Heart (1984) to In the Line of Fire (1993) to Dangerous Liaisons (1988) to Being John Malkovich (1999) — the 70-year-old actor has demonstrated his artistic range time and again. In blockbuster projects, Malkovich often portrays antagonistic roles. A good example of this is Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom in Con Air (1997). He was also cast as the Vulture in Sam Raimi’s canceled fourth Spider-Man film. So, there is a legitimate possibility that he will also appear as a villain in the MCU.
However, it was recently announced that Ralph Ineson will portray Galactus in the film. The planet-devouring entity will reportedly serve as the primary antagonist. Therefore, it doesn’t necessarily make sense to cast an actor of Malkovich’s caliber and relegate him to a secondary antagonist. The only way that can work is to set up his story in this film and use it as a launchpad for the sequel, where Malkovich’s character can be the main villain.
Which character could John Malkovich play in The Fantastic Four?
The Rogues Gallery of the Fantastic Four is one of the most impressive ones in Marvel Comics. One character that Malkovich can potentially play is the Puppet Master or Philip Masters, the stepfather of Alicia Masters, who is a recurring romantic partner of Ben Grimm. The Puppet Master can control people with his puppets made out of radioactive clay.
Alternatively, Malkovich can play Johnny and Sue’s father Franklin or Reed Richards’s father Nathaniel. This can help ground the narrative of a lofty project such as this.
Other options include a version of Red Ghost or Ivan Kragoff, a Soviet scientist who travels to the Moon in the same manner as the Fantastic Four, and Molecule Man or Owen Reece, an eventual reluctant hero who is an integral part the Secret Wars comic book crossover event. This film can introduce him to the audience before Avengers: Secret Wars, slated to come out sometime in 2027.
