Why John Malkovich Was Heartbreakingly Cut From Film

Actor John Malkovich in a Marvel movie. As a villain. In a cosmic 1960s setting. Sounds like a fever dream we deserve, right? Well, it almost happened (and technically, it did), but then it didn’t. Because even though he filmed scenes as Ivan Kragoff a.k.a. the Red Ghost for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” his entire role was heartbreakingly cut from the final version.

Yep, you read that right. Malkovich. Gone. Poof. With not even a post-credits scene moment thrown our way.

And just in case you thought this was some internet rumor spiraling out of control, director Matt Shakman confirmed it. Not only did Malkovich shoot scenes, but according to Shakman, “He was brilliant in it and gave it his all,” per People.

Too Many Villains, Not Enough Runtime

Here’s where it gets messy: “First Steps” is already stacked. You’ve got Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the core Fantastic Four. Add Galactus (Ralph Ineson), Silver Surfer (Julia Garner), plus all the world-building of a ‘60s alt-universe timeline, and it’s a narrative juggling act. Shakman admitted the movie was “a little overstuffed,” and sadly, Kragoff’s scenes didn’t make the cut.

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Malkovich’s Red Ghost was part of the film’s early “bookend” scenes meant to set the tone, says Shakman, but as edits came together, those moments felt like they were pulling focus from the main plot. “There were a lot of things that ultimately ended up hitting the cutting room floor,” Shakman said, according to People. And yeah, Malkovich was one of them.

It wasn’t about the performance. Shakman called Malkovich “one of my very favorite humans and one of my biggest inspirations.” Which only makes the decision sting more.

No Cameo, No Closure

Let’s get real; Marvel cameos are usually treated like golden eggs. Even the weird ones (cough Harry Styles cough). So when someone as iconic as John Malkovich shows up and doesn’t even get a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it scene? That’s rare. Painfully rare.

And what makes this worse? We saw him in the very first trailer. With that long white hair and the commanding stare. Fans clocked it immediately, but will only be met with silence when the movie’s credits roll. No explanation, no bonus scene, nothing. Just another villain lost to the multiverse of editorial heartbreak.

Still, Shakman didn’t take the choice lightly. “It was a heartbreaking decision,” he explained, per People; and honestly, we believe him. This wasn’t a throwaway role or a PR stunt. It was a respected artist showing up, doing the work, and being sidelined for the greater good of story clarity.

We get it. But that doesn’t mean we’re not a little salty about it.