Marvel Studios The Fantastic Four reboot adds John Malkovich in mystery role

On May 9, Deadline unveiled the thrilling news that John Malkovich, a multi-time Academy Award nominee, is the latest addition to Marvel Studios' ever-growing sandbox, as he joined the cast for their latest blockbuster, The Fantastic Four.

It's no secret that each casting or announcement has been integral in refueling a palpable sense of emotion as Kevin Feige and company continue to recruit and fill in the pieces of the puzzle before kicking off filming this summer, leading up to a highly anticipated July 25, 2025, theatrical release. 

The trade also reported that Malkovich’s role is being kept under wraps and has not been disclosed, along with the persistent confirmation that no plot details or synopsis have been revealed. 

Malkovich now joins the star-studded cast, which is comprised and led by Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones, The Last of Us) as Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic; Vanessa Kirby (Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning) as Sue Storm, aka the Invisible Woman; Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things) as Johnny Storm, aka the Human Torch; and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Punisher, The Bear) as Ben Grimm, aka The Thing. Recent additions have been Julia Garner (Ozark, Inventing Anna) as Shalla-Bal, a variant of the Silver Surfer. 

Before today’s announcement, the biggest reveal was that Emmy-Award winner Paul Walter Hauser (Succession, Cruella), who currently has a busy dance card, also joined the film under the guise of a mystery role. Still, fan speculation has mounted that the actor would be playing the character of the Mole Man, but that is yet to be confirmed. 

Regarding who Malkovich could be portraying, speculation is mounting that he could be either the villain, The Puppet Master, Wizard, or Doctor Frankin Storm, the parents of Sue and Johnny Storm. 

Director Matt Shakman is the man behind the lens and leading the charge. He is best known for his prior work with Marvel on Wandavision and the hit Apple+ series Moncharch: Legacy of Monsters. Shakman will direct a script from scribes Josh Friedman, Jeff Kaplan, Eric Pearson, and Ian Springer.  

Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four will launch a new chapter of the MCU in theaters on July 25, 2025.