Just days before the highly anticipated Marvel film The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set to premiere in the United States on July 25, it was confirmed that John Malkovich’s character, Red Ghost, has been removed from the final cut. This surprising decision comes despite Red Ghost having appeared in several teaser trailers, signaling a late change in the editing room. Director Matt Shakman has since explained the reasoning behind this cut, citing creative choices made to refine the film’s overall balance.
Director Explains the Decision to Cut Red Ghost
Matt Shakman revealed that the removal of John Malkovich’s Red Ghost was driven by the need to avoid overcrowding the film with too many characters. In order to maintain clarity and focus, the director chose to streamline the cast. Shakman described the choice as difficult, expressing empathy for the actor’s effort.
it was heartbreaking not to include [Malkovich] in the final version of the movie,
Shakman said, acknowledging the actor’s dedication and talent, calling him brilliant…and gave it his all. Red Ghost’s appearances are primarily within the opening montage, showing The Fantastic Four confronting various villains, including Ivan Kragoff (Red Ghost) and Harvey Elder, also known as Mole Man.
Further elaborating on the complexity of the film’s narrative elements, Shakman stated:
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,
continuing with
and some things had to go ultimately in terms of shaping the film for its final version.
Context of Red Ghost’s Role and Future Prospects
Red Ghost, a villain from Russia named Ivan Kragoff, has a notable backstory in the comics. He is known for constructing a spacecraft with a group of apes to expose them to cosmic rays, thereby granting them superpowers. Whether this origin was adapted in the film remains unknown due to his scenes being cut. There is speculation about if and how the character might appear in upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe projects.
John Malkovich Reflects on His MCU Experience
John Malkovich disclosed that he declined previous Marvel offers because the compensation did not meet his expectations. His involvement in The Fantastic Four project was influenced by his prior collaboration with director Matt Shakman on the 2014 film Cut Bank. Despite his scenes being removed, Malkovich’s participation remains a notable part of the film’s production backstory.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What is John Malkovich’s religion?
A. I don’t believe in a god. However, I wouldn’t describe myself as completely lacking spiritual beliefs.
Q. Is Being John Malkovich dark?
A. When he tells his co-worker Maxine (Catherine Keener) about his discovery, they start a strange business selling the experience of “being John Malkovich.” This cult dark comedy, known for its surreal themes about identity and self, helped writer Charlie Kaufman and director Spike Jonze gain fame.
Q. What religion is John Malkovich?
A. I don’t believe in God. I wouldn’t say I lack any spiritual beliefs, though. Perhaps I’m agnostic, unsure of a powerful being managing everything while allowing free will. To me, that idea doesn’t quite make sense.
