Marvel Studios has officially removed John Malkovich’s character from its upcoming film Fantastic Four: First Steps, just weeks before the film’s global release on July 25, 2025. Director Matt Shakman confirmed that Malkovich’s role as the villain Red Ghost was cut for pacing and narrative clarity.
While fans were eager to see the Oscar-nominated actor enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), his performance won’t make it to the final version of the film. The decision was described as “painful but necessary.”
🎭 Why John Malkovich Was Removed from Fantastic Four
John Malkovich was originally cast as Ivan Kragoff, also known in Marvel Comics as Red Ghost—a Soviet scientist with phasing abilities who often clashes with the Fantastic Four. His appearance was filmed, edited, and initially included in early trailers and behind-the-scenes reports.
However, director Matt Shakman revealed in a recent interview that the Red Ghost opening sequence was cut during the final stages of editing.
“John Malkovich is one of the greatest actors alive,” said Shakman. “He was amazing in the role. But when we looked at the overall story and the world we were building, that early sequence didn’t serve the pacing of the film.”
Shakman explained that the film already includes multiple characters, timelines, and key setups for the multiverse-heavy Phase Six, and that including Red Ghost complicated the introduction of the core team and plot.
✂️ A Creative, Not Performance-Based, Cut
It’s important to note that the removal of John Malkovich from Fantastic Four had nothing to do with his performance. In fact, Shakman praised Malkovich’s dedication and creativity during filming.
“We shot an incredible sequence with John. It was bold, funny, and fit the retro Cold War vibe perfectly. But sometimes in filmmaking, hard choices have to be made in the editing room.”
Malkovich himself has reportedly taken the decision in stride, calling the experience “fun but unusual” due to the advanced technology on set—featuring digital environments, large LED stages, and drone cameras.
📽️ What Was Malkovich’s Scene Supposed to Be?
The now-cut scene reportedly served as the film’s prologue, introducing the Fantastic Four in the 1960s alternate universe of Earth-828. Malkovich’s Red Ghost and his “Super-Apes” would face off against the team in an Eastern Bloc setting that paid homage to Cold War spy thrillers and classic comics.
Though Marvel has not released the footage publicly, industry insiders suggest that the scene could reappear as bonus content on Disney+ or in future MCU projects.
🎞️ Will John Malkovich Return as Red Ghost?
While this version of Red Ghost won’t appear in Fantastic Four: First Steps, Shakman hinted that the door isn’t entirely closed:
“With the multiverse, anything is possible. This may not be the last time fans get to see Red Ghost—or John—in the MCU.”
That leaves hope for future appearances in multiverse-connected projects like Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars, where characters from alternate timelines and universes frequently return.
🧪 What to Expect from Fantastic Four: First Steps Without Malkovich
Even without John Malkovich’s villainous debut, Fantastic Four: First Steps still features a stacked cast and an ambitious storyline:
- Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic
- Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm / Invisible Woman
- Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm / Human Torch
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm / The Thing
- Julia Garner as Silver Surfer
- Ralph Ineson as Galactus
- Paul Walter Hauser as an unnamed secondary villain
- Ada Scott as Franklin Richards, the team’s infant child
The film will serve as a bridge between multiverse worlds and is expected to connect directly to 2026’s Avengers: Doomsday and 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars.
🎤 Final Thoughts
The removal of John Malkovich from Fantastic Four may disappoint fans, but it highlights Marvel Studios’ focus on story cohesion and forward-looking world-building. While Malkovich’s Red Ghost won’t make the final cut, the actor remains open to future appearances—and fans may yet see the scene surface elsewhere.
As Fantastic Four: First Steps sets the stage for the MCU’s next phase, Marvel proves once again that no decision is too difficult when it comes to storytelling—and no character is ever truly gone in the multiverse.
