Overview
- John Malkovich’s scenes as Ivan Kragoff, aka the Red Ghost, were filmed for The Fantastic Four: First Steps but removed from the final theatrical cut.
- Matt Shakman said the decision stemmed from the need to streamline multiple villains and character arcs within a sub-two-hour runtime.
- Shakman described cutting Malkovich as heartbreaking, citing their collaboration on his 2014 feature debut, Cut Bank.
- A brief shot of Malkovich in the Red Ghost suit appeared in the first teaser trailer, leading to speculation before his name vanished from later promotional materials.
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps will premiere in Los Angeles on July 21 and open in theaters worldwide on July 25, 2025.