It’s finally happening. *The Fantastic Four: First Steps* is set to debut next week after years of anticipation for Marvel to finally introduce the First Family to the MCU. The red carpet premiere is scheduled for Monday, July 21, and will be livestreamed on Disney Plus. The film will be released in theaters next Friday, with previews available in some locations on Wednesday and Thursday.
However, we don’t need to wait until next week to uncover at least one major *Fantastic Four* spoiler, and possibly two. This is because Marvel seemed pleased with director Matt Shakman revealing a few thrilling details about the film during a comprehensive interview regarding what leading *Fantastic Four* meant for him. Shakman previously worked on *WandaVision* before landing the *Fantastic Four* role, making him well-acquainted with the confidentiality surrounding MCU projects.
**That said, I must caution you that significant spoilers may follow below, so you might prefer to steer clear of them until you watch the movie.**
### John Malkovich’s villain excised
Marvel enthusiasts eager to see John Malkovich in an MCU film might be disappointed by this piece of news. The cherished actor was slated to portray one of the antagonists in *The Fantastic Four: First Steps*. Reports of his casting circulated, and Marvel even validated his involvement when the *Fantastic Four* synopsis was unveiled.
Speculation surrounded the villain the actor might embody, with some guessing he would take on the role of *Fantastic Four* nemesis Red Ghost, who had yet to appear in any prior films. He wasn’t the primary antagonist of the movie, something we were already aware of. Galactus (Ralph Ineson) stands as the main threat the Fantastic Four will confront.
Shakman confirmed to *Variety* that the rumors were accurate. Shakman cast Malkovich as Red Ghost in a scene at the film’s beginning. However, the actor was ultimately removed from the final edit. The director explained that this decision was a matter of equilibrium:
> There was a lot to juggle in this film, and some elements had to be eliminated. John is one of my favorite people and one of my greatest inspirations. It was heartbreaking not to include him.
The actor also acknowledged his removal from *The Fantastic Four* in an interview with *GQ*.
