MCU fans just got a first glimpse of John Malkovich's mysterious character in The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
Arriving in theaters on July 25, the cast of Marvel's First Family is just the beginning of the comic book characters fans will see in the anticipated reboot, with the Silver Surfer, Galactus, and various speculated personas rounding out the roster.
Among them is well-known actor John Malkovich, whose undisclosed character was featured in the first trailer for First Steps.
Who Is John Malkovich Playing in The Fantastic Four?
In the first official trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, fans got a first look at celebrated actor John Malkovich in his highly speculated MCU role.
While his character's identity has yet to be confirmed, rumors suggest Malkovich will play Ivan Kragoff, a recurring villain of the Fantastic Four introduced in January 1963’s Fantastic Four #13.
In the comics, Kragoff is a Russian scientist fascinated with Cosmic Rays who sets out to replicate what happened to the Fantastic Four. He also goes by the Red Ghost and has an army of Super-Apes, a product of intentional Cosmic Ray exposure.
Since the Red Ghost is a 1960s villain whose abilities stem from the same source as Marvel's First Family, his inclusion makes sense.
As for John Malkovich, the Academy Award-nominated actor is best known for his roles in Dangerous Liaisons and Being John Malkovich.
Still, The Fantastic Four is far from Malkovich's brush with comic book cinema. Years ago, he was expected to play the Vulture in Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man 4 before the film was abandoned.
But if Malkovich plays Red Ghost in The Fantastic Four, the question is whether the Space Race between the U.S. and Russia plays a part and if Kragoff will be accompanied by his comic book ape army.
How Many Villains Are in The Fantastic Four?
While John Malkovich's character is still up for speculation, The Fantastic Four's first trailer left no doubt that the film's biggest threat is Galactus.
The official teaser ended with a chilling shot of his shadow looming over a retro New York City, all before offering a quick view of Galactus' comic book-accurate appearance from behind as he turns toward the Statue of Liberty.
In addition to the Devourer of Worlds, The Fantastic Four is also confirmed to feature Galactus' herald, the Silver Surfer, played by Julia Garner.
There's additional speculation that Paul Walter Hauser (Inside Out 2 and Cobra Kai) may be playing Mole Man (check out The Fantastic Four's Subterranea set here), along with the potential for Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom to appear before Avengers: Doomsday.
Since Marvel fans have been waiting years for a big-screen Galactus, are additional villains like Malkovich's and Hauser's necessary? Will they become the Fantastic Four's villains of the week or serve a greater purpose?
As marketing officially begins for First Steps, audiences will likely better understand what to expect from these MCU baddies ahead of this summer.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrives in theaters on July 25.
