John Malkovich Joins ‘The Fantastic Four’

EXCLUSIVE: John Malkovich (The New Look) is poised to enter the MCU, as Deadline understands that the actor has come aboard for a role in The Fantastic Four.

As with recent addition Paul Walter Hauser, Malkovich’s role is under wraps for now, along with the plot of the superhero flick. But as previously reported, those set for lead roles in the film include Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards (aka Mr. Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm (aka the Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm (aka the Human Torch) and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm (aka the Thing). Most recently, Hauser signed on for an undisclosed role, prompting much speculation, with Julia Garner coming aboard to play Shalla-Bal, a version of Silver Surfer.

WandaVision‘s Matt Shakman is directing The Fantastic Four from a script by Eric Pearson, Josh Friedman, Jeff Kaplan, and Ian Springer. Peter Cameron (WandaVision) has also done some writing on the project. Kevin Feige is producing for Marvel Studios, with the film slated to hit theaters on July 25, 2025.

A two-time Oscar nominee, Malkovich was most recently seen starring opposite Ben Mendelsohn, Juliette Binoche, Maisie Williams and more in Apple TV+’s drama series The New Look from Todd A. Kessler, taking on the role of French fashion designer Lucien Lelong. Also recently appearing in the finale of Netflix’s Ripley, the actor was seen prior to that in Showtime’s Billions and Netflix’s Space Force, along with numerous indie features.

Up next, Malkovich will be seen in Julian Schnabel’s Hand of Dante, A24’s horror film Opus opposite Ayo Edebiri, and the biopic The Yellow Tie on famed Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache, among other projects. The actor is represented by WME.