The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) already star-studded The Fantastic Four movie is adding another big name to its cast: John Malkovich.
That’s according to The Hollywood Reporter, which says that the experienced actor has joined the film ahead of its release next year. Details on how he will fit into the superhero movie are being kept under wraps for now.
Malkovich has appeared in prominent movie roles since the ‘80s, and made a name for himself with projects like Of Mice and Men in 1992 and Being John Malkovich in 1999. More recently, the star was featured in Space Force, Bird Box, Burn After Reading, and Deepwater Horizon. The actor almost saw his Marvel debut with Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 4 before that film was eventually shelved.
Fantastic Four has been one of the most hotly anticipated MCU films since Marvel Studios announced it back in 2020. The supergroup, which has appeared in other live-action incarnations in the past, has never gotten their own standalone MCU entry, so Marvel has assembled a stellar crew to help introduce them.
The main cast of heroes includes Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, and Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm. We also learned that Ozark star Julia Garner will appear as the Silver Surfer with Paul Walter Hauser also attached in a mystery role, and with Malkovich now onboard, too, it’s looking like Fantastic Four is primed to deliver a stacked list of names. This includes the fact that the movie is directed by WandaVision and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia alum Matt Shakman.
Fantastic Four comes to theaters on July 25, 2025. For more, be sure to check out the latest Deadpool and Wolverine news ahead of its premiere in a few months. Then, you can read up on Marvel Studios’ boss Kevin Feige’s thoughts on the state of the MCU, and what Disney is doing to ensure the franchise has a strong future.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.
Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.