John Malkovich has decided to forgo his role in 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' movie.
In a surprising turn of events, the character of the Red Ghost, played by John Malkovich, has been cut from **The Fantastic Four: First Steps**. Director Matt Shakman revealed that the decision was made to balance the various characters and plot elements in the movie, leading to the removal of early scenes featuring Malkovich's character.
Originally, Red Ghost (Ivan Kragoff) was set to be a villainous mad scientist leading a team of Super-Apes, serving as one of the Fantastic Four’s earliest adversaries. The character was intended to bring a unique flavour to the movie, capturing some of the kookier, "weirdo" villain elements from the Fantastic Four comics.
In the initial plot, Red Ghost was seen in an early sequence that showcased the team's origins and their battle against him and his apes for the glory of the USSR. However, these scenes, including those featuring Malkovich, were trimmed for pacing and focus.
Matt Shakman expressed his disappointment at having to cut the Red Ghost character, stating it was heartbreaking due to his personal excitement about the character and Malkovich’s involvement. Despite Red Ghost’s removal, other unusual villains like Mole Man remain part of the movie.
John Malkovich, who is the founder of the Steppenwolf Theater Company, shot his scenes for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. However, whether his Red Ghost character may appear in the digital release of the film is yet to be specified.
It is worth noting that the Red Ghost's scenes in the digital release of Fantastic Four have not been shown yet. The first teaser trailer of Fantastic Four, featuring Malkovich's Red Ghost, was released in February, but his character was noticeably absent from later marketing materials, confirming his removal from the final film.
In summary, the Red Ghost was cut from **The Fantastic Four: First Steps** to balance the film’s many characters and storylines. His original role was that of a villainous mad scientist leading a team of Super-Apes, an early antagonist confronting the Fantastic Four in a Cold War-era setting. John Malkovich was cast as the Red Ghost in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but his scenes have been cut from the final film. The Red Ghost's scenes in the digital release of Fantastic Four have not been shown yet.
- Gizmodo and io9, known for their coverage of entertainment and popular culture, might offer insightful analysis on the impact of removing John Malkovich's character, the Red Ghost, from The Fantastic Four: First Steps, given the unique flavor he was to bring to the movie.
- In the future, with digital releases, movie enthusiasts may still get a chance to witness the peculiar portrayal of the Red Ghost by John Malkovich in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, facilitated by advancements in technology.
- Unfortunately, the removal of the Red Ghost and the Super-Apes from Movies-and-TV's The Fantastic Four: First Steps means a loss of the kooky, comic-book-inspired villain that was set to clash with the Fantastic Four in a Cold War setting, which could have added an interesting twist to the broader category of superhero movies.
