John Malkovich reveals he previously rejected Marvel movies due to pay
The Fantastic Four: First Steps star John Malkovich has revealed he previously rejected Marvel roles because the studio lowballed him on pay.
Malkovich finally agreed to sign up for a Marvel picture when director Matt Shakman came on board the latest reboot of Fantastic Four because he had worked with the director previously on the 2014 indie Cut Bank. His role in the movie is still a mystery, though, and when he recently spoke to GQ, he was asked why it had taken him this long to get involved in the superhero world.
“The reason I didn’t do them had nothing to do with any artistic considerations whatsoever,” the Oscar-nominated actor admitted. “I didn’t like the deals they made, at all. These films are quite gruelling to make. If you’re going to hang from a crane in front of a green screen for six months, pay me.”
He added: “You don’t want to pay me, it’s cool, but then I don’t want to do it, because I’d rather be onstage, or be directing a play, or doing something else.”
Additionally, Malkovich did confess that working on a special effects-heavy Marvel movie made him realise the process wasn’t actually too dissimilar to working in theatre. He mused, “You imagine a bunch of stuff that isn’t there and do your little play.”
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is due for release on July 25th, 2025, and the retro-futuristic reboot of the company’s original superhero family is primed to kick off Phase Six of its faltering Cinematic Universe.
Along with Malkovich, the cast includes Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner and Natasha Lyonne.
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