Marvel Studios is gradually unveiling new cast members for The Fantastic Four. A couple of hours before Ralph Ineson’s casting as the villain Galactus was announced, news emerged that Oscar-winning actor John Malkovich had also joined the film.
Though details about Malkovich's role remain under wraps, there are five possible Marvel characters he can bring to life as he enters the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Deadline broke the news about Malkovich’s casting. This announcement comes a week after Marvel Studios added Paul Walter Hauser to the cast of The Fantastic Four.
But as Ineson’s casting debunked the claims that Malkovich could play Galactus, the theories on his actual role begin.
Nathaniel Richards
In The Fantastic Four, Malkovich could play the role of the original Nathaniel Richards, the father of Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal).
A brilliant scientist and an expert in many fields, he joined the secret Brotherhood of the Shield and gained the ability to travel through time after an incident with Nikola Tesla’s quantum core.
His newly acquired ability helped him to visit Reed in the present and pass on some knowledge about the future and alternate timelines.
Though he was both an ally and an enemy of the team, Malkovich could be playing Reed's father figure in the movie.
It’s also worth noting that Nathaniel helped launch the Future Foundation, which could also be part of the film.
Franklin Storm
If Malkovich weren’t Reed Richards’ father, he could be Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) and Johnny Storm’s (Joseph Quinn) dad, Dr. Franklin Storm.
Despite being dubbed one of the greatest surgeons in the US, Franklin ended up in prison after committing manslaughter.
He then got confronted by Super-Skrull in his cell after assuming his physical appearance by using shape-changing powers.
The villain teleported the real doctor to the Skrull Throneworld, where he was held captive. The fake one then broke out of prison, dubbed himself the Invincible Man and battled the Fantastic Four.
But Super-Skrull failed to deceive the group. As the battle continued, the real Dr. Storm sacrificed himself and died in the presence of his kids.
Puppet Master
Puppet Master, real name Phillip Masters, is a longtime villain of the Fantastic Four.
He’s a mad scientist who can manipulate people through radioactive clay puppets that he makes of them.
He is also the abusive father of Alicia Master, the woman who becomes an ally of the superhero group and the love interest of Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach).
The blossoming love between the two makes Puppet Master hate Thing more. Marvel’s first family has stopped his plan to take over the world.
Though it remains to be seen if Puppet Master will be part of The Fantastic Four, it would be great to see Malkovich take the role.
Molecule Man
Owen Reece used to be a lowly lab technician who became a powerful being called the Molecule Man.
While fixing an atomic device, he created a hole in the universe that gave him incredible energy and made him one of the earliest villains of the Fantastic Four.
He encountered the child Beyonder in the Secret Wars, and they later fused into a Cosmic Cube.
Though Molecule Man might be an unlikely choice for Malkovich, with the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars, don't count out this choice just yet.
Wizard
One of the Fantastic Four’s oldest foes is Bentley Wittman, the Wizard. With near-superhuman levels of genius, Bentley excels in various fields.
He’s a chess champion, a renowned escape artist, and a rich man who sells his advanced scientific inventions to the wealthy.
He used The Wizard as his stage name and performed feats of stage magic.
However, when the Fantastic Four gained popularity, Bentley hated the group for outshining him.
He wanted to prove himself superior to the Human Torch and began his evil plans to defeat the group's youngest member.
Bentley committed crimes and blamed the Human Torch for it. With the help of his sister, Invisible Girl, Human Torch was set free.
The latter tracked the Wizard down, and the villain skyrocketed into the stratosphere, making the superhero believe his foe would suffocate there.
These are the five possible characters Malkovich may play in The Fantastic Four. As Marvel Studios has not officially announced the role he’s going to play, fans are advised to take these guesses with a grain of salt.
The Fantastic Four is set to hit theatres on July 25, 2025.
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