Why Marvel cut Oscar-nominated John Malkovich’s villain role from ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’: A brief explainer

No, you did not blink and miss it. John Malkovich will no longer appear in Marvel Studios’ upcoming tentpole The Fantastic Four: First Steps, despite having filmed scenes as the villain Ivan Kragoff, also known as the Red Ghost.

Director Matt Shakman confirmed the decision to cut the Emmy-winning/Oscar-nominated actor's scenes in an interview with Variety, citing the film’s complex structure and need to keep focus.

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“There was a lot of stuff to balance in this movie, and some things had to go,” Shakman said. “John is one of my favorite humans and one of my biggest inspirations. It was heartbreaking not to include him."

Malkovich’s scenes were part of the film’s early sequence, which explored the Fantastic Four’s first years as superheroes. A brief shot of Malkovich as the Red Ghost appeared in the first teaser trailer.

Malkovich as he appears in Fantastic Four: First Steps trailerMarvel Studios

“There were a lot of things that ultimately ended up hitting the cutting-room floor. When we were building a ’60s retro-future world, introducing all of these villains, introducing these four main characters as a group, as well as individually, introducing the idea of a child there was a lot of stuff to balance in this movie and some things had to go ultimately in terms of shaping the film for its final version," said Shakman.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps opens July 25 and stars Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Julia Garner, Vanessa Kirby, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach.

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Red Ghost is an early adversary of the Fantastic Four in the comics, leading a team of super-powered apes against the heroes. He first appeared in issue No. 13 in 1963 and returned through the years. Befitting his name, Red Ghost was a Soviet scientist who had the power to become intangible and invisible.

Red Ghost in the comicsMarvel Entertainment

Malkovich had previously turned down offers to appear in Marvel films, but agreed to join The Fantastic Four to work again with Shakman, who directed him in the 2014 independent film Cut Bank.

In a February interview with GQ, Malkovich explained his earlier reluctance to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

“The reason I didn’t do them had nothing to do with any artistic considerations whatsoever. I didn’t like the deals they made, at all,” he said. “These films are quite grueling to make…. If you’re going to hang from a crane in front of a green screen for six months, pay me. You don’t want to pay me, it’s cool, but then I don’t want to do it, because I’d rather be onstage, or be directing a play, or doing something else.”

The Fantastic Four: First StepsPhoto courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios. © 2025 20th Century Studios / © and ™ 2025 MARVEL.

After filming The Fantastic Four, Malkovich compared the experience to stage work.

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“It’s not that dissimilar to doing theater,” he said. “You imagine a bunch of stuff that isn’t there and do your little play.”

Despite being cut from the final version, Shakman said he was honored to have worked with Malkovich again and praised his performance.

“John was brilliant in it, and gave it his all."

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