John Malkovich’s Removed Red Ghost Scenes from The Fantastic Four

John Malkovich has been removed from the cast of *The Fantastic Four: First Steps*. The seasoned 71-year-old actor was supposed to portray the villain Ivan Kragoff, also known as Red Ghost. However, director Matt Shakman has shared that his scenes did not align with the film’s narrative, which prominently features actors like Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn as the heroes.

In a discussion with *Variety*, Shakman revealed, “Numerous elements ultimately didn’t make it into the final cut.”

He elaborated, stating, “As we crafted a 1960s retro-futuristic universe, balancing numerous villains and highlighting the four central characters—both collectively and individually—while introducing the idea of a child, we had a lot to juggle in this film. Some components had to be left out to properly shape the final version.”

Personal Connection

Previously, Shakman had collaborated with Malkovich on his debut feature film, *Cut Bank*, released in 2014. This history made the decision to leave out Malkovich all the more difficult for the director. He expressed, “It was heart-wrenching not to feature him in the film’s final edit, as he is one of my favorite individuals and a major source of inspiration for me.”

Shakman remarked on Malkovich’s influence in both theater and screen, noting, “As a pioneer in both realms, few inspire me as much as the founder of Steppenwolf Theatre Company.”

He continued, “His contributions as an actor on stage, his direction in theater, and his immense talent on screen are truly commendable—having him join the project was an honor.”

Malkovich’s Marvel Considerations

Earlier this year, Malkovich had mentioned that he had rejected several Marvel roles in the past due to unsatisfactory contractual terms. In an interview with *GQ*, he explained, “My decisions were not driven by artistic factors.”

He detailed, “I found the deals they offered quite unappealing. In the world of Marvel, if you’re going to be suspended from a crane in front of a green screen for six months, make it worth my while.”

Malkovich added, “If you’re not willing to compensate me, then I’d prefer to pursue stage work, direct a play, or engage in something else.”

Unexpected Discoveries

After accepting his role in the Marvel project, he discovered parallels between a Marvel production and theater work. He stated, “It’s surprisingly similar to performing on stage. You visualize many elements that aren’t present and execute your little scene.”

Malkovich also mentioned that one of his most challenging roles came from voicing Dr. Octavius Brine in the animated film *Penguins of Madagascar*. He remarked, “One of the toughest experiences I encountered was recording for this children’s film, where I voiced an octopus.”

He reflected, “I must have recorded every line with thousands of variations. I often wondered why they didn’t consider different dialogue options, and I brought it up more than once.”