In a surprising revelation just days before the theatrical release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps on July 25, 2025, director Matt Shakman confirmed that acclaimed actor John Malkovich’s scenes as the villain Ivan Kragoff, aka the Red Ghost, were cut from the final version of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film. Describing the decision as “heartbreaking,” Shakman praised Malkovich’s “brilliant” performance, which had even been teased in the film’s first trailer in February 2025. The cut, driven by the need to balance an extensive cast and a complex ’60s retro-futuristic narrative, has sparked widespread discussion among fans and industry insiders. Drawing from recent reports, fan reactions on X, and Shakman’s own reflections, here’s a deep dive into why Malkovich was excluded, the impact on the film, and the possibility of his return to the MCU.

The Red Ghost’s Brief Tease and Ultimate Exclusion

John Malkovich, a two-time Academy Award nominee and founder of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company, was set to make his MCU debut as Ivan Kragoff, the Red Ghost, a Soviet scientist and early Fantastic Four adversary from the 1963 comics. Known for his ability to phase through solid objects after replicating the cosmic ray accident that empowered the Fantastic Four, Kragoff, along with his team of Super-Apes, was poised to battle the titular team in a sequence exploring their early years as superheroes. A brief glimpse of Malkovich, sporting long white hair and a beard, appeared in the February 2025 teaser trailer, fueling fan speculation about his role. However, as reported by Variety on July 17, 2025, Shakman confirmed that these scenes were ultimately removed from the final cut.

Shakman explained that the decision stemmed from the need to streamline the film’s narrative. “There were a lot of things that ultimately ended up hitting the cutting room floor,” he told Variety. “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.” The film, clocking in at under two hours, prioritized its core cast—Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm—alongside major villains like Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner), leaving little room for additional characters like the Red Ghost.

The cut was particularly notable because Malkovich’s casting had been a coup for the production. Having previously declined Marvel roles due to inadequate pay and grueling shooting conditions, as he revealed in a February 2025 GQ interview, Malkovich agreed to join First Steps largely due to his prior collaboration with Shakman on the 2014 thriller Cut Bank. “The reason I didn’t do [Marvel movies] had nothing to do with any artistic considerations whatsoever,” Malkovich said. “I didn’t like the deals they made, at all.” His willingness to take on the Red Ghost role for Shakman underscored their mutual respect, making the cut a deeply personal blow for the director.

A Heartbreaking Decision for Shakman

Shakman’s emotional connection to Malkovich made the decision to cut his scenes especially painful. In interviews with Variety, Entertainment Weekly, and Elite Daily, Shakman repeatedly described the choice as “heartbreaking,” emphasizing Malkovich’s exceptional performance. “He was brilliant in it, and gave it his all,” Shakman said, noting that Malkovich’s work in the early sequence, which depicted the Fantastic Four battling the Red Ghost and his Super-Apes, was “extraordinary.” The director’s admiration for Malkovich extended beyond his acting prowess, citing his role as a theatrical pioneer. “As a person who walks the line between theater and film and television, there’s no one who is more inspiring than the founder of Steppenwolf Theatre Company,” Shakman told Variety. “What he’s done on stage as an actor and what he’s done as a director in theater as well as in film, and as just a film actor of incredible ability—I was honored he came to play.”

The decision to cut Malkovich was not a reflection of his performance but rather a necessity to focus the narrative. The film, set in a ’60s-inspired retro-futuristic universe, had to juggle introducing the Fantastic Four, their robot companion H.E.R.B.I.E. (voiced by Matthew Wood), and major cosmic threats like Galactus and the Silver Surfer, while also exploring Reed and Sue’s impending parenthood. Shakman noted that the Red Ghost sequence, while exciting, added too much backstory, detracting from the main plot. “We had so many characters to introduce, this whole world, this whole other universe, and it just became too much backstory,” he told Entertainment Weekly. A brief mention of the Red Ghost and a single Super-Ape in a montage remain as vestiges of the cut content, as reported by Elite Daily.

Shakman’s personal history with Malkovich amplified the difficulty of the cut. Having worked together on Cut Bank, Shakman credited Malkovich with helping launch his directorial career. “John is one of my favorite humans and one of my biggest inspirations,” he said, a sentiment echoed in multiple interviews. The director’s regret was palpable, with fans on X noting his sincerity. One user, @cosmic_marvel, posted on July 30, 2025, “Matt Shakman on cutting John Malkovich from THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS: ‘John did an amazing job. He’s a fantastic actor. It just was such a heartbreaking thing to have to eliminate that section.’”

Fan Reactions and the Director’s Cut Debate

The news of Malkovich’s cut sparked a mix of disappointment and understanding among fans. On Reddit’s r/marvelstudios, a post by u/peoplemagazine titled “‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Director Explains the ‘Heartbreaking’ Decision to Cut John Malkovich from the Film” garnered 2,407 points and 175 comments, reflecting the community’s engagement. Some fans, like one commenter, felt the cut was justified, stating, “Yeah, he stuck out like a flashing neon sore thumb in the trailer and felt as out of place as a Starbucks cup in Game of Thrones.” Others expressed frustration, with another writing, “It really blows that the studio greets potential stars like him this way.” The brief trailer appearance had raised expectations, making the cut feel like a bait-and-switch for some.

Fans clamored for a director’s cut to restore Malkovich’s scenes, drawing parallels to the “Snyder Cut” campaign for Justice League. However, Shakman quickly shut down the possibility, citing unfinished visual effects. “There are so many visual effects involved that those scenes remain unfinished, so that’s not possible,” he told Elite Daily at the Los Angeles press junket. Posts on X echoed this, with @F4sUpdate quoting Shakman on July 27, 2025: “There are so many visual effects involved that those scenes remain unfinished, so that’s not possible.” The absence of a director’s cut disappointed fans, but Shakman’s explanation—that the cuts were made “for the greater good” of the film’s pacing—resonated with others who praised the streamlined two-hour runtime.

Despite the cut, fans remained hopeful for Malkovich’s MCU return. Shakman hinted at future possibilities, telling Elite Daily, “He’s one of my favorite actors, one of my favorite people, and he really crushed it. So yeah, I hope so.” The multiverse, a key component of the MCU, offers opportunities for Malkovich to reappear as the Red Ghost or another character, a sentiment shared by That Park Place: “With the multiverse still a key part of the MCU’s long-term plans, there’s plenty of room for the Red Ghost to resurface.” Fan reactions on X, like @MCUFilmNews’s post on July 30, 2025, emphasized Shakman’s admiration, fueling speculation about future collaborations.

The Broader Context of First Steps

The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Marvel’s second reboot of the iconic superhero team, is a high-stakes project for the studio, which has faced criticism for recent underperforming films. Set in a ’60s-inspired alternate universe, the film introduces the Fantastic Four as an established team, skipping their origin story to focus on their battle against Galactus and the Silver Surfer. The ensemble cast, including Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser as Mole Man, Mark Gatiss, and Sarah Niles, adds depth, but the need to service so many characters contributed to Malkovich’s cut. Vanity Fair noted that the film was “saturated with heroic figures and cosmic threats,” making the Red Ghost’s sequence expendable.

The film’s strong critical and box office performance, as reported by IGN, has mitigated some of the disappointment over Malkovich’s absence. X user @ScottGustin praised the film on July 25, 2025, writing, “Yeah, #FantasticFour exceeded expectations. A strong story with real stakes, stunning visuals, and a cast with incredible chemistry. Director Matt Shakman has quickly become the MCU’s MVP.” The decision to prioritize the core quartet’s chemistry and the Galactus storyline was seen as a smart move, with IMDb rating the film 7.3/10 for its balance of science-fiction and superheroism.

Malkovich’s cut wasn’t the only trimming. IGN reported that other sequences, including more screen time for Mole Man and Sue Storm’s relationship with him, were also removed to maintain pacing. Shakman explained, “We were doing some things that were tricky, we were skipping an origin story but also trying to give you all the information you needed to know.” The focus on narrative efficiency has been largely praised, though the loss of Malkovich’s prestige and the Red Ghost’s comic-accurate Super-Apes remains a sore point for fans.

Malkovich’s MCU History and Future Prospects

Malkovich’s cut from First Steps marks another missed opportunity for the actor in the superhero genre. In 2010, he was slated to play the Vulture in Sam Raimi’s unproduced Spider-Man 4, a role that never materialized when Sony pivoted to The Amazing Spider-Man. Polygon highlighted this parallel, noting, “The slight against Malkovich-heads arrives 15 years after plans for Spider-Man 4… were officially scrapped.” Malkovich’s reluctance to join superhero films, driven by contractual disputes, made his First Steps casting a rare exception, motivated by his trust in Shakman.

Despite the cut, Shakman’s effusive praise and the MCU’s multiverse framework keep the door open for Malkovich’s return. SuperHeroHype reported Shakman’s hope that “other opportunities” could bring back characters like the Red Ghost, Mad Thinker, or Puppet Master, who were also cut. The actor’s brief trailer appearance, described by Far Out Magazine as a “blink-and-you’ll-miss-it” moment, has fueled fan campaigns for deleted scenes, though Shakman’s VFX concerns make this unlikely. The Daily Beast noted Malkovich’s history of turning down Marvel roles, suggesting his willingness to join First Steps was a testament to Shakman’s vision, which could pave the way for future collaborations.

Final Thoughts

Matt Shakman’s decision to cut John Malkovich’s Red Ghost from The Fantastic Four: First Steps was a “heartbreaking” but necessary choice to streamline a film packed with characters and cosmic stakes. Malkovich’s “brilliant” performance, teased in the February 2025 trailer, fell victim to the need to balance a ’60s retro-futuristic world, the Fantastic Four’s introduction, and major villains like Galactus. Shakman’s personal connection to Malkovich, rooted in their Cut Bank collaboration, made the cut deeply emotional, as he lauded the actor as one of his “biggest inspirations.” While fans are disappointed, with no director’s cut possible due to unfinished VFX, the film’s critical success and Shakman’s hints at future MCU roles for Malkovich offer hope. As First Steps continues to shine in theaters, the loss of the Red Ghost underscores the tough choices behind crafting a cohesive superhero epic, leaving fans eager for Malkovich’s potential return to the MCU’s multiverse.