Here’s why The Fantastic Four: First Steps has cut a major star from the movie

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In the movie “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” initially, a villain was planned to be included but ended up being cut out during editing since a brief, star-filled appearance didn’t ultimately make it into the final cut.

In the forthcoming film about Marvel’s First Family, it takes place far along in their careers as superheroes, so certain initial exploits won’t make it into the final version due to the timeline constraints.

With Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) and Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) preparing for the arrival of their first baby, Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), overjoyed uncles, on one hand; on the other, they are engaged in a battle against the formidable villain Galactus (Ralph Ineson).

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With the spotlight now on the latest formidable villain, Ivan Kragoff (also known as Red Ghost), portrayed by John Malkovich, it was his time to exit the scene.

According to director Matt Shakman, speaking with Variety, many ideas or scenes didn’t make it into the final cut of the project.

While crafting a world blending ’60s retro-style and futuristic elements, we needed to introduce numerous villains, establish our four primary characters as a cohesive unit, and also individually, introduce a child’s character. This movie required careful management of many elements, and certain aspects were necessarily sacrificed during the process of refining the film for its final cut.

As a die-hard fan, I found it tough on a personal level to trim down Red Ghost’s scenes in our movie, given my immense appreciation for the talent and charm that Mr. Malkovich brings to every role he plays.

In my gaming world, I’ve collaborated with this stellar actor before, back when he was making his directorial entrance with the gripping crime-thriller “Cut Bank” in 2014.

The director expressed regret, stating, “It was truly painful to leave him out of the final cut of [First Steps], as he’s not only one of my most cherished individuals but also a significant source of inspiration.” He further praised Malkovich, noting that he was exceptionally talented in the Marvel film and gave it his utmost effort.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps will be released in cinemas on 25 July.

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2025-07-16 23:49