Is John Malkovich Playing a Marvel Villain?

Villain Resurfaces in The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Fans got a delightful surprise with The Fantastic Four: First Steps teaser trailer. John Malkovich’s appearance certainly turned heads. His fleeting appearance, crowned by long white hair and a bald pate, left fans buzzing. The rumor mills churn, and whispers point towards a classic foe—the Red Ghost. This villain debuted alongside big baddies like Dr. Doom, yet his absence in prior adaptations perplexes many. A product of his era, he fits seamlessly into the MCU’s 1960s setting.

The Red Ghost’s Comic Book Roots

Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Marvel masterminds, birthed the Red Ghost in 1963’s Fantastic Four #13. Laden with Cold War motifs, this villain echoed the era’s intrigue. The comic saw Reed, Sue, Ben, and Johnny beat the Soviets to the Moon. Ivan Kragoff, the Red Ghost, was a Soviet scientist vying for that lunar crown, inspired by their cosmic-ray powers. His bold move? Mimicking their cosmic accident—this time with three apes.

Ingenious yet eccentric, Ivan rocketed skyward with his primate comrades. Mikhlo, the gorilla, Igor, the baboon, and Peotr, the orangutan, joined him. The mission’s madness was less outlandish, then, given the ’60s’ preoccupation with primate test flights.

Unique Powers and Cold War Relics

Their gambit succeeded, granting new powers. Kragoff became the ethereal Red Ghost, slipping through walls. Mikhlo gained immense strength, while Igor mastered shapeshifting. Peotr’s power to attract and repel objects added to their arsenal. Together, they plagued the Fantastic Four. Their Soviet ties faded with time, explaining past cinematic omissions.

However, with First Steps set in the ’60s, this Sputnik-era villain makes perfect sense. Red Ghost might not headline, given Galactus’s looming threat, but rumors suggest a nuanced portrayal. We might glimpse Silver Age villains like Mole Man during the team’s early heroics. Such cameos promise to enrich the narrative tapestry.

Sixties Era and Malkovich’s Panache

Malkovich is ideal to embody the ’60s “Ruskie” villain. His charisma and flair can rejuvenate this relic. Will Red Ghost and his Super Apes fizz against Galactus’s cosmic might? Perhaps nostalgia will flourish, reintroducing Molecule Man and Puppet Master alongside him. This period-centric tapestry weaves anticipation into the story’s fabric.

Answers await when The Fantastic Four: First Steps lands in theaters on July 25. Expect a retro voyage filled with kaleidoscopic villains and a dash of classic Marvel magic.