The Fantastic Four: First Steps will bring several major characters into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), but director Matt Shakman confirms John Malkovich's Red Ghost won't be among them.
Shakman revealed Malkovich's scenes were cut in an interview with Variety ahead of the film's release. He explained that moments featuring the villain were among many sequences that "ultimately ended up on the cutting room floor" during final edits.
"We were balancing a '60s retro-future aesthetic, multiple villains, establishing our four main characters both individually and as a team, while also introducing a child character - it became necessary to streamline certain elements," Shakman explained.
Malkovich's involvement as Red Ghost had been uncertain for months. While his long-haired, bearded appearance in February's teaser trailer briefly confirmed his role, his absence from subsequent marketing fueled speculation about his removal from the project.
The director expressed deep regret about the decision, calling Malkovich "one of my greatest inspirations" and praising his career spanning theater, film and television. "As the founder of Steppenwolf Theater Company and an actor/director of extraordinary talent, I was truly honored he agreed to participate," Shakman added.
Shakman noted Malkovich's scenes would have appeared in a flashback sequence depicting the Fantastic Four's early battles against Red Ghost and his Super-Apes. While the footage remains unreleased, the director praised Malkovich's performance as "brilliant" and "fully committed."
The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters July 25, 2025, starring Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm. The cast also includes Julia Garner, Ralph Ineson, Sarah Niles, Natasha Lyonne, and Paul Walter Hauser.
For related Marvel coverage, explore why Tom Holland's Spider-Man director Jon Watts departed the Fantastic Four project, or discover details about Sam Raimi's canceled Spider-Man 4 - which would have featured Malkovich as another Marvel antagonist.
