The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which arrives in theaters this month, will have one less actor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. After years of waiting to see the Fantastic Four in the MCU, 2025 will finally bring them into the franchise via the highly anticipated reboot, but with a twist.

Instead of being set on Earth-616, The Fantastic Four: First Steps will take place on a different Earth in the larger MCU multiverse, which explains why the Avengers have yet to meet them. However, with The Fantastic Four: First Steps arriving in a week, a big change has been confirmed by the director himself.

In a new interview with Variety, The Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman confirmed that two-time Academy Award-nominated actor John Malkovich is officially no longer appearing in the upcoming Phase 6 installment. As Malkovich was set to play Red Ghost, Shakman shared the following behind the decision:

There were a lot of things that ultimately ended up hitting the cutting room floor. 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.

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. 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 Theater Company. 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.

According to Variety, Red Ghost’s scenes would have been part of a “lengthy sequence” focusing on the early years of Marvel’s First Family, while also battling Malkovich’s villain and his team of Super-Apes. Per The Fantastic Four: First Steps director, Malkovich was “brilliant in it, and gave it his all.”

What John Malkovich’s Cut MCU Debut Means

While Red Ghost only had a single appearance in The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailers, there had been speculation that Malkovich had been cut from the film when recent listings for the movie didn’t include the actor. With Shakman’s comments, this officially confirms the rumblings, but his reasoning for not including Red Ghost in the final cut makes sense.

Given how packed The Fantastic Four: First Steps cast already is, and with the film being the team’s MCU debut, there is already a lot going on in this story. It’s also not uncommon for big actors who land roles in blockbuster franchises to sometimes get cut, especially if they are just a supporting character.

Our Take On John Malkovich’s Cut MCU Debut

As disappointing as it is that Malkovich’s Red Ghost won’t be part of The Fantastic Four: First Steps when the film hits theaters, there is still a major upside to Shakman’s decision. The MCU now has the option to either feature Malkovich’s Red Ghost in a future installment, or cast the actor in a new, and potentially bigger, role altogether.

Given how talented Malkovich is as an actor, there are a lot of bigger roles in the Marvel canon that the MCU could cast him as, if they decide to bring him back. While fans will not get to see Red Ghost in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, there are still plenty of villains to look forward to in the film.

Source: Variety