The upcoming film "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" will finally introduce several major characters to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), but director Matt Shakman confirms that John Malkovich's Red Ghost will not be among them.
Details regarding Malkovich's removal from the final cut emerged in a Variety interview with Shakman, conducted ahead of the film's premiere later this month. Shakman revealed that scenes featuring Malkovich's villain were among those that "ultimately ended up on the cutting room floor."
"When we were building a retro-future world set in the '60s, introducing multiple villains, establishing the four main characters both as a team and individually, and incorporating a child's storyline—there was a lot to balance," Shakman explained. "Some elements had to be trimmed to shape the final version of the film."
Malkovich's role as Red Ghost had been shrouded in mystery for months, though it was never a complete secret. While fans were uncertain how much screen time the "Burn After Reading" actor would have, he appeared with long white hair and a scruffy beard in the first teaser trailer released in February. His absence from most subsequent promotional material fueled speculation that Marvel had cut his character entirely—a theory that has now been confirmed.
"It was heartbreaking not to include him in the final version of the movie because he’s one of my very favorite people and one of my greatest inspirations," Shakman added. "As someone who navigates both theater and screen, there's no one more inspiring than the founder of Steppenwolf Theatre Company. His work on stage as an actor and director, as well as his incredible film performances—I was honored he joined us."
Shakman noted that audiences would have seen Malkovich in a sequence depicting the early days of Marvel’s First Family, specifically in a battle between the superpowered team and Red Ghost alongside his Super-Apes. It remains unclear whether Malkovich’s scenes will ever be released, but Shakman affirmed that the actor "was brilliant in the role and gave it his all."
"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" is scheduled for release on July 25, 2025. The film stars Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing. The cast also includes Julia Garner, Ralph Ineson, Sarah Niles, Natasha Lyonne, and Paul Walter Hauser.
For more on the film's development, read about why "Spider-Man" director Jon Watts initially left the project. You can also explore details about Sam Raimi's canceled "Spider-Man 4," which would have featured Malkovich as another iconic Marvel villain.
