I’m Convinced John Malkovich’s Mystery Fantastic Four Casting Could Fix The MCU’s Kang Problem Via 1 Forgotten Character

John Malkovich will probably be making his MCU debut within the upcoming The Fantastic Four: First Steps reboot, and whereas the id of his bearded character hasn’t but been confirmed, a brand new casting idea suggests he might have a wild connection to Multiverse Saga villain, Kang the Conqueror. John Malkovich joined the cast of The Fantastic Four: First Steps in Could 2024, alongside the likes of Paul Walter Hauser, Natasha Lyonne and Ralph Ineson. Whereas the latter has been confirmed to be the planet-eater Galactus, the id of Hauser, Lyonne and Malkovich’s new MCU characters have not been revealed.

The first teaser trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps offered a glimpse at John Malkovich within the Part 6 reboot. His bearded guise has spurred theories suggesting a number of notable Marvel Comics characters that may be a superb match, however there’s one forgotten character that hasn’t actually been a part of the dialogue. John Malkovich lastly making his MCU debut may be very thrilling, and it is doable he will probably be much more vital to the development of the Fantastic Four than you understand, and will even join the staff to a number of the MCU’s pre-established characters.

John Malkovich’s MCU Character Hasn’t But Been Confirmed

John Malkovich Has Been Rumored For A Quantity Of New MCU Characters

Ever since his casting in The Improbable 4: First Steps was introduced again in Could 2024, hypothesis has been rife concerning who John Malkovich will be playing within the Multiverse Saga film. Since First Steps will probably be set in an alternate universe, the alternatives are virtually limitless, as Marvel Studios has few restrictions when deciding who to incorporate within the reboot. One of the crucial standard early strategies was Mole Man, the Improbable 4’s first villain from Marvel Comics and the ruler of Subterranea, however Malkovich would not actually have the proper search for Mole Man.

Extra lately, the teaser trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps spurred theories that Malkovich could possibly be taking part in Ivan Kragoff, a.ok.a. Purple Ghost, given the Marvel Comics character’s lengthy, white hair. Kragoff educated and enhanced the “Tremendous-Apes” and used them to battle the Improbable 4 in one among Marvel’s weirder chapters. It is also been prompt that Malkovich could possibly be portrayed Franklin Storm, the daddy of the Invisible Girl and the Human Torch, who’s killed by Skrulls in Marvel Comics, however there could also be an excellent higher character for John Malkovich within the MCU.

John Malkovich Would Be Excellent As Nathaniel Richards (Not Kang) In The Improbable 4: First Steps

The Authentic Nathaniel Richards Is A Very Vital Determine In Marvel Comics

Maybe the proper character that John Malkovich might play in The Improbable 4: First Steps can be Nathaniel Richards, Reed Richards’ personal father. Nathaniel Richards is a scientist and adventurer in Marvel Comics, who gained the power to time journey after fixing a dispute between Leonardo da Vinci and Isaac Newton. Whereas Nathaniel was all however absent for almost all of Reed Richards’ life, he had a real love for his son, and helped the Improbable 4 on quite a few events. John Malkovich can be an impressed selection for this advanced character.

Reed Richards’ father has by no means been tailored for live-action earlier than, with Tim Heidecker’s character from 2015’s Fantastic Four being Reed’s step-father, so it is excessive time he acquired his live-action debut. Marvel Studios would profit from exploring extra of Reed Richards’ private life and backstory, and John Malkovich, being the unimaginable actor he’s, is the proper candidate to fill this function. Nathaniel Richards’ debut in The Improbable 4: First Steps can be game-changing for the MCU, however might additionally flesh out the story of different notable characters.

Nathaniel Richards May Convey The Improbable 4 To The MCU’s Predominant Continuity

The Improbable 4 Will Presumably Be a part of Earth-616 In The MCU’s Part 6

The Improbable 4: First Steps has been confirmed to be the primary live-action MCU film set solely in an alternate universe, permitting Marvel to completely make the most of exploring the Multiverse Saga. Nonetheless, it is anticipated that the film will by some means convey Marvel’s First Household into the MCU’s foremost continuity of Earth-616, probably after failing to defeat Galactus or coming face-to-face with Physician Doom. Whereas this has develop into a preferred idea, it is unclear how the Fantastic Four would jump from one reality to another, however Nathaniel Richards’ debut might present a proof.

Associated

I’m Convinced 1 Original Fantastic Four Movie Actor’s 3 Different Marvel Roles Over 31 Years Make Him The Perfect Candidate For A Major MCU Return Theory

I feel the MCU’s The Improbable 4: First Steps is the proper place to pay homage to at least one actor’s little-known, three-decade-long Marvel profession.

Marvel Comics’ Nathaniel Richards has a genius-level mind and has the power to time journey by way of the usage of an invention of his personal making: the Time Platform. We have already these Time Platforms in the MCU, as Reed Richards enters utilizing one in Physician Unusual within the Multiverse of Insanity, and Kang’s variants converge of their stadium by way of Time Platforms in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. It is doable this could possibly be used, or Nathaniel Richards might design one thing new, to convey the Improbable 4 to the protection of Earth-616, and John Malkovich would ship this outstanding inventor vibe completely.

Marvel Could Quietly Proceed Kang’s Storyline With out Recasting Him But

Kang The Conqueror Should not Be Forgotten In The MCU’s Multiverse Saga

The Improbable 4: First Steps has been theorized to incorporate the primary cameo look of Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom in the MCU. Whereas this hasn’t but been confirmed, Physician Doom is being launched to the MCU with a view to substitute Kang the Conqueror and his villainous variants, who have been portrayed by the now-convicted Jonathan Majors in Loki and Quantumania. Kang’s future is unsure, although many wish to see him recast. It is perhaps too quickly for this to happen now that Doom is on his method, however Marvel can nonetheless proceed Kang’s story by debuting Nathaniel Richards.

Kang’s actual title in Marvel Comics can also be Nathaniel Richards, as he’s the namesake of his time-traveling ancestor, Reed Richards’ father. Confused but? Reed and Kang should not siblings and even shut kin, however each their bloodlines lead again to Nathaniel Richards. Because of this John Malkovich debuting as Nathaniel Richards in The Improbable 4: First Steps might create the chance for a few of Kang’s backstory and household historical past to be explored, which might quietly proceed his storyline within the MCU whereas Marvel decides whether or not to recast him or not.

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The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Launch Date

July 25, 2025

Director

Matt Shakman

Producers

Jamie Christopher, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Tim Lewis

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  Reed Richards / Mr. Improbable

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  Vanessa Kirby

  Sue Storm / The Invisible Girl

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  Johnny Storm / Human Torch

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  Ebon Moss-Bachrach

  Ben Grimm / The Factor

Upcoming MCU Motion pictures