Fantastic Four: First Step’s Deleted Alternate Opening & Cut Villain Officially Revealed

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The deleted scenes featuring John Malkovich from “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” have been confirmed by director Matt Shakman. However, it’s unlikely that these scenes will be included in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “First Steps” premiered in theaters on July 25, 2025, and kicked off Phase 6 of the MCU following the controversial Phases 4 and 5. Packed with family moments and thrilling action sequences, some scenes didn’t make it to the final cut. Unfortunately, John Malkovich’s new villain character was one of them, and Shakman has now shared the reason behind this decision.

During an interview on the Phase Hero podcast, Shakman stated that there was a part requiring intense activity, centering around the Red Ghost. The performance by John Malkovich was remarkable. However, when we were aiming to reach the current timeline where the Fantastic Four’s world undergoes a transformation and Franklin’s arrival becomes crucial, there was simply too much content to handle effectively. This suggests that originally, the opening sequence intended to swiftly present the Fantastic Four’s origin story in the MCU might have included their full confrontation against Red Ghost and his Super-Apes, but this approach seemed to disrupt the narrative flow.

In simpler terms, “Shakman described a scene where Red Ghost, accompanied by his apes, attempted to pilfer a rocket ship. Reed aimed to thwart him and outsmart him in an exciting turn of events. Shakman explained that this sequence would have delved into various action-packed moments. He mentioned that a fragment of this fight was incorporated into the montage showing Reed kicking one of Red Ghost’s apes into the water. This battle unfolded on the launchpad of the Excelsior, the Fantastic Four’s spaceship, and Shakman hinted that Red Ghost intended to seize this powerful spacecraft for his own ambitions.

In 1963, Ivan Kragoff’s character, the Red Ghost, made his first appearance in Fantastic Four #13. Here, the Russian scientist aimed to recreate the incident that granted the Fantastic Four their powers by sending himself and three apes to the Moon. This experiment was successful, transforming Kragoff into an intangible being known as the Red Ghost, and bestowing superpowers upon his ape companions. This story is significant because it introduced the Watcher in Marvel Comics; he resides on the Moon’s blue side and develops a strong relationship with the Fantastic Four after they vanquish the Red Ghost and the Super-Apes.

It’s unfortunate that Matt Shakman has hinted that we may not get to watch deleted scenes due to the extensive VFX work that remains incomplete, making them less suitable for viewing. However, the inclusion of Piotr the orangutan in the opening montage of The Fantastic Four: First Steps and the emphasis on the main characters’ fight against Red Ghost and the Super-Apes in the post-credits scene suggests that John Malkovich could potentially portray the villain in future MCU projects. Here’s hoping we get to witness Red Ghost’s live-action debut soon.

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2025-07-27 15:39