In an unexpected and bittersweet twist, acclaimed actor John Malkovich‘s Red Ghost has officially been cut from ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’, Marvel Studios’ much-anticipated cinematic reintroduction of its iconic superhero family.
Malkovich, who was cast as the classic comic book villain Ivan Kragoff (better known as the Red Ghost), was initially part of a flashback sequence detailing the Fantastic Four’s earliest days. However, director Matt Shakman has now confirmed that those scenes won’t make it into the final cut of the film.
Matt Shakman Calls Cutting Out The Red Ghost “Heartbreaking”
Fans caught a brief glimpse of John Malkovich’s Red Ghost in the movie’s first teaser trailer, creating a wave of excitement. However, according to Shakman, despite Malkovich’s stellar performance, the creative team had to make the tough call to streamline the film. “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,” Shakman told Variety. “He was brilliant in it and gave it his all.”
Related: Marvel’s ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Comic Confirms MCU Origin And Villain Reveal
This wasn’t just a matter of trimming excess footage; it was personal. Shakman and Malkovich had previously collaborated on Shakman’s feature debut, ‘Cut Bank’, and the actor’s commitment to that film helped launch Shakman’s directing career. Their reunion in The Fantastic Four was meant to be a creative homecoming. Instead, it became a tough casualty of storytelling logistics.
“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,” Shakman explained. “Some things had to go ultimately in terms of shaping the film for its final version.” Indeed, ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ is packed with heavy hitters.
With such an expansive cast and a story that begins years into the Fantastic Four’s superhero journey, the film simply didn’t have room to give the Red Ghost his due. Still, for fans and the director alike, losing Malkovich stings. “As a person who walks the line between theater, film, and television, there’s no one more inspiring,” said Shakman. “I was honored he came to play.”
When Does ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Take Place? Marvel’s Timeline Mystery Explained
If you’ve watched the trailer for ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ and felt confused by the visuals, you’re not alone. The futuristic gadgets, sleek cityscapes, and mid-century fashion have left fans wondering: When exactly does this movie take place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? The answer is both surprising and fascinating.
In case you missed it: How Sue Storm Is Reclaiming The Fantastic Four’s Legacy In Comics And The MCU
According to official details and clues from the teaser, the events of the film take place in an alternate version of the 1960s. However, this isn’t our history; it’s a retro-futuristic version of the past, where Cold War-era style meets science-fiction technology. Additionally, this alternate timeline isn’t part of the MCU’s Earth-616 continuity (the main universe we’ve followed since Iron Man in 2008). Instead, it exists as a separate branch.
This is similar to how ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ and the upcoming X-Men stories will bring alternate timelines into the fold. This creative decision gives Marvel the freedom to tell a self-contained origin story. And while First Steps may not dwell on traditional origin beats, the film does offer flashbacks and key visual cues of the team’s early battles and transformation.
