Fantastic Four Cut a Major Actor’s Mystery Role (& Reveals Who They Played)

by

First Steps,” Matt Shakman, has confirmed that John Malkovich’s role in the movie has been removed before it hits theaters later this month. Originally, Malkovich was to play Red Ghost, a villain who led an army of Super-Apes against the Fantastic Four. However, due to story considerations and to avoid overloading the film with too much content, Malkovich’s performance as Red Ghost has been left out. The scenes featuring Red Ghost were meant to depict different enemies the Fantastic Four have faced throughout their career.

In an interview, Shakman stated that there were numerous elements that didn’t make it into the final cut of the movie. With the aim of creating a 60s-inspired future setting, introducing multiple villains, four main characters, their group dynamics, and individual stories, as well as incorporating a child character, there was an abundance of material to manage. Consequently, certain aspects had to be omitted in order to streamline the film for its final version. One such element was the exclusion of Malkovich from the movie’s finale, which was particularly painful since he is one of Shakman’s favorite individuals and a major source of inspiration.

2024 found me, the passionate cinephile, adding another title to my watchlist – “Fantastic Four: First Steps”. The intrigue surrounding this project intensified when it was announced that the esteemed John Malkovich had joined the cast, yet the details of his role remained cloaked in mystery. Even a fleeting glimpse of the actor graced the first teaser trailer, but alas, no further illumination on his character was provided. As fans speculated about the identity of Malkovich’s character, Red Ghost was one name that frequently surfaced among the theories. The anticipation builds as we eagerly await more details to be revealed!

Although Malkovich was initially featured in promotional materials, fans speculated that the actor might not be part of the movie after they noticed his name missing from a recent cast list for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps“. This assumption was strengthened by Malkovich’s lack of public statements about his role in the film. Notably, his only significant comments were made in February when he mentioned turning down previous Marvel offers due to salary issues. Malkovich had agreed to work on “First Steps” primarily to collaborate with Shakman again, as they had worked together on the movie “Cut Bank“.

It’s regrettable that a skilled actor like Malkovich didn’t make it into the movie “First Steps.” Although Red Ghost might not have had a significant role in the narrative, his performance would have added depth to the scenes. His character seemed perfect for showcasing the assortment of super-villains encountered by the Fantastic Four before the film’s main events. It makes sense that this part was eliminated due to the complexity of “First Steps.” The movie serves as an introduction to a new set of characters essential for the Multiverse Saga, as well as depicting a 1960s-inspired retro-futuristic parallel universe.

While the final product may include brief glimpses of the Fantastic Four’s past adventures to set the stage, extended sequences aren’t necessary for clarity. Balancing pacing and efficiently covering the vast amount of content related to Galactus’ arrival is crucial in this film.

It’s anticipated that John Malkovich’s portrayal of Red Ghost will be included as bonus content when The Fantastic Four: First Steps becomes available on home media platforms. Originally appearing in comics back in 1963, the Red Ghost was one of the earliest adversaries for the Fantastic Four. It would have been intriguing to witness a nod to this character and a piece of Fantastic Four history within the Marvel Cinematic Universe on the silver screen. Given Malkovich’s knack for playing cunning and intelligent comic book villains, his role as Red Ghost seemed fitting, even if he wasn’t the main focus of the film. Regrettably, it appears that the Marvel Cinematic Universe missed this opportunity to showcase a confrontation between the Fantastic Four and Red Ghost.

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/fantastic-four-first-steps-prequel-comic-mole-man-role/embed/#

Read More

2025-07-16 21:40