The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set to welcome several major stars to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), but director Matt Shakman confirms that John Malkovich’s Red Ghost will not be among them.
News of Malkovich’s removal from the final version of the upcoming Fantastic Four film comes from a Variety interview with Shakman ahead of the movie’s release later this month. He explained that sequences featuring Malkovich’s antagonist were among several scenes that “ultimately ended up on the cutting room floor.”
“Bringing a retro-futuristic ’60s world to life, establishing these villains, introducing our four heroes both individually and as a team, and weaving in the storyline of a child—balancing all these elements meant some content had to be trimmed for the final cut,” Shakman stated.
While rumors had circulated for months about Malkovich’s role as Red Ghost, his involvement was never a complete secret. Though his screen time remained uncertain, the acclaimed Burn After Reading actor appeared with long white hair and an unkempt beard in February’s teaser trailer. Still, his absence from most promotional campaigns fueled speculation that Marvel had decided to remove Red Ghost from the movie altogether—a suspicion now confirmed.
“It was heartbreaking not to include him in the final version of the movie because he’s one of my very favorite humans and one of my biggest inspirations.
“Leaving John out of the final edit was heartbreaking—he’s not only one of my favorite people but also a tremendous inspiration,” Shakman added. “As someone who navigates theater, film, and television, there’s no one more inspiring than the founder of Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Whether on stage as an actor, a theater director, or a remarkably gifted film performer—I was honored he agreed to join us.”
Shakman noted that audiences would have encountered Malkovich during an early sequence showcasing the origins of Marvel’s First Family. The scene reportedly featured an intense showdown pitting the Fantastic Four against Red Ghost and his Super-Apes. Whether this footage will ever surface remains unknown, but Shakman assures that Malkovich “delivered a brilliant performance and gave it his all.”
The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrives in theaters on July 25, 2025, starring 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. Supporting cast members include Julia Garner, Ralph Ineson, Sarah Niles, Natasha Lyonne, and Paul Walter Hauser.
For more behind-the-scenes insights, learn why Tom Holland’s Spider-Man director Jon Watts exited the project early, and explore what Sam Raimi’s canceled Spider-Man 4 might have looked like—a film that also planned to feature Malkovich as a classic Marvel foe.
