By Nermeen Nabil Khear 
One of the surprises for many in The Fantastic Four: First Steps teaser trailer was the appearance of John Malkovich. We only see the esteemed actor for a brief moment, but given his long white hair and bald head, it seems to confirm certain rumors about who he’s playing. And the top guess is that he’s the classic Fantastic Four villain, the Red Ghost. The Red Ghost is one of the earliest enemies the team battled, debuting around the same time as major villains like Dr. Doom. But why have we never seen him before in live-action? It’s likely because he’s the most “of his time” bad guy the team fought. But with the MCU’s FF now set squarely in the ‘60s, it makes perfect sense to include him at last.
The Marvel Comics Origin of the Red Ghost and the Super Apes
Like most of the most iconic Marvel Comics villains, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created the Red Ghost. He first appeared in Fantastic Four #13, in 1963. He’s a villain exhibiting all the Cold War tropes, the kind we saw in James Bond movies of the time, only dialed up to the max. In the original Fantastic Four comics, Reed, Sue, Ben, and Johnny went to space to beat the Soviets to the Moon. Remember, this was 1961, the height of the Space Race. Ivan Kragoff was a Soviet scientist determined to get to the Moon before America, and was aware of how the FF got their powers with cosmic rays. So he attempted to replicate their accident… with himself and three apes.
The Red Ghost Is a Truly Cold War-Era Marvel Villain
So why apes? Back in the late ‘50s/early ‘60s, using primates for test launches wasn’t uncommon. The notion of a mad scientist from Leningrad going into orbit with apes was less silly-sounding than it is now. Ivan Kragoff took off in a rocket with Mikhlo (a gorilla), Igor (a baboon), and Peotr (an orangutan), hoping to replicate the incident that gave the FF their abilities.
And it worked. All four gained powers, although not identical to the FF’s. Kragoff could now become intangible/invisible, taking the name Red Ghost. Mikhlo gained super strength, while Igor could shapeshift. Peotr could now attract and repulse objects. The Red Ghost and his Super Apes became frequent FF villains for a time, although their ties to Soviet Russia meant their relevance became less and less over the years. And it’s why they never considered them for any previous movie iteration of the FF, until now.
The Red Ghost in The Fantastic Four: First Steps
With The Fantastic Four: First Steps set squarely in the ‘60s, a Russian Cold War villain actually works. We don’t think he’ll be the main antagonist, as we know that’s Galactus. But we think he’ll have a key but relatively minor role. Rumors abound that we’ll see some of the FF’s Silver Age villains like the Red Ghost and the Mole Man in a minor capacity throughout the film. Perhaps in a montage of the team’s exploits over the years? Maybe that’s how we encounter other FF villains from the same era, like Molecule Man and maybe even Puppet Master. And Malkovich has the perfect energy to bring this ‘60s “Ruskie” bad guy to life.
We’ll find out for sure when The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on July 25.
The post Is John Malkovich Playing Marvel Villian the Red Ghost in THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS? appeared first on Nerdist.
This articles is written by : Nermeen Nabil Khear Abdelmalak
All rights reserved to : USAGOLDMIES . www.usagoldmines.com
You can Enjoy surfing our website categories and read more content in many fields you may like .
Why USAGoldMines ?
USAGoldMines is a comprehensive website offering the latest in financial, crypto, and technical news. With specialized sections for each category, it provides readers with up-to-date market insights, investment trends, and technological advancements, making it a valuable resource for investors and enthusiasts in the fast-paced financial world.