John Malkovich's Fantastic Four: The First Steps character might be The Red Ghost, a Russian cosmonaut who hangs out with three super-powered apes - and I couldn't be more excited

Red Ghost and the Super-Apes on the attack
(Image credit: Marvel Comics)

The first trailer for Fantastic Four: The First Steps has arrived, and it really seems like Marvel Studios is capturing the retro-futuristic Silver Age vibes it's been aiming for with the reboot movie. In fact, the film's Silver Age bona fides may run so deep that the film is actually pulling in one of the Fantastic Four's strangest and most obscure villains - Ivan Kragoff, the Red Ghost.

John Malkovich with long white hair and a long beard in Fantastic Four: The First Steps

(Image credit: Marvel Studios)

While it's just shy of having actually been confirmed, leaving a sliver of daylight for a big surprise on Marvel's part, it seems a lot like the mystery role played by John Malkovich, who is glimpsed just briefly in the trailer, is very likely the super-powered cosmonaut Ivan Kragoff.

Now, for most MCU fans, there's a solid chance you're scratching your heads and saying "Who the heck is Ivan Kragoff?" But me, insufferable Marvel know-it-all that I am, I'm jumping for joy, as the delightfully strange Kragoff was my top choice for who Malkovich could be playing way back when his casting was reported, because of the potential twist that may come with Red Ghost's inclusion in the film.

Created all the way back in 1963's Fantastic Four #13 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Kragoff is actually one of four cosmonauts embroiled in the Space Race of the '60s who gained super powers after exposure to Cosmic Rays, just like their American counterparts Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm.

But that's not the twist.

Red Ghost brandishing a raygun in comics

(Image credit: Marvel Comics)

The twist is, the other three cosmonauts who gained powers alongside Kragoff are actually great apes, collectively known as the Super-Apes. Yes, that's right - the original comic book concept of an anti-FF was a weird old ghost man and his three monkey pals.

In terms of the Super-Apes, there's Mikhlo the gorilla who gains the powers of super-strength and toughness, Igor the baboon who gains the ability to shapeshift, and of course Peotr the orangutan who gains the power of simple telekinesis.

Though the Super-Apes have often clashed with Kragoff over his cruel treatment of them, even once forming a special bond with the Invisible Woman while hiding out on the moon, they almost always appear together as a foursome.

You can see why I'm excited. There's no more hilariously, loveably absurd trope in comics than the idea of super-intelligent apes with super powers, and we may be one step closer to actually seeing the Super-Apes come to life in the MCU, as ridiculous as that may sound.

Red Ghost and the Super-Apes explaining their origin

(Image credit: Marvel Comics)

Yes, it may be far-fetched. But it's not impossible, and that's what the Fantastic Four are all about - breaking the boundaries of possibility. Such as giving an old goofball nerd hope that I may indeed get to see the Super-Apes realized onscreen.

Oh yeah, and Red Ghost of course. Malkovich is the perfect casting to play a mad scientist cosmonaut who has glimpsed sights beyond what the human mind can bear, and who hangs around with three apes on the moon.

I can dream, right? We'll likely find out more about whether Malkovich is actually playing Ivan Kragoff or not in the months leading up to the July release of Fantastic Four: The First Steps, and in the meantime, I'll be dreaming of Super-Apes.

Fantastic Four arrives in theaters on July 25. While we wait, check out our guides to all the upcoming Marvel movies and shows on the way and our breakdown of how to watch the Marvel movies in order.

CATEGORIES
George Marston

I've been Newsarama's resident Marvel Comics expert and general comic book historian since 2011. I've also been the on-site reporter at most major comic conventions such as Comic-Con International: San Diego, New York Comic Con, and C2E2. Outside of comic journalism, I am the artist of many weird pictures, and the guitarist of many heavy riffs. (They/Them)

Read more
John Malkovich in Fantastic Four: First Steps
Fantastic Four star John Malkovich says shooting the Marvel movie was very "odd" because "nothing is really there except giant screens and 18 epic cranes"
The Fantastic Four: First Steps cast assemble
The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer introduces Marvel's first family, big bad Galactus, and John Malkovich's deep-cut comics character to the MCU
Galactus looming above a city skyline
The Fantastic Four: First Steps - The comic book history of Galactus, Marvel's weirdest, coolest cosmic villain
The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer
The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer Easter eggs – The 12 Marvel nods we spotted, from the Fantasticar to the Baxter Building
Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: The First Steps
A blink-and-you'll-miss-it background detail in the Fantastic Four trailer might be hinting at how the team joins the present-day MCU
Ebon Moss-Bachrach in Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four star says motion-capture legend Andy Serkis helped with his performance and yes, he said that iconic Marvel catchphrase
Latest in Marvel Movies
Robert Downey Jr announces his Doctor Doom casting at San Diego Comic-Con 2024
"He is so dialed in": Robert Downey Jr. is coming up with backstory and costume ideas for Doctor Doom ahead of Avengers: Doomsday
Chris Evans as Steve Rogers in Avengers: Endgame
The Russo brothers have an idea about Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars runtimes, and one might reach Avengers: Endgame's record
Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm in The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Fantastic Four: First Steps concept art contains an unexpected MCU Easter Egg that could change the Marvel movie completely
Guardians of the Galaxy 3
Marvel star Vin Diesel might be teasing a Groot movie: "Disney wants their Planet X!"
Lewis Pullman as "Bob" in Thunderbolts
The first look at Thunderbolts' Sentry suit seemingly leaked in new Marvel merchandise
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Deadpool walking in front of a damaged store during the Marvel movie Deadpool and Wolverine.
There's a moment in Deadpool and Wolverine involving Spider-Man that you might have misinterpreted
Latest in Features
Infinity Nikki
Infinity Nikki and The Sims' return are only the start of a retro gaming renaissance for Y2K girlies
Avowed screenshot of the godlike envoy with branch-like antlers, pink hair, and mushroom decals framing her eyes. A bow is on her back.
Some of Avowed's most memorable smaller instances are reminding me of the magic of Red Dead Redemption 2's random encounters
XGIMI Elfin Flip projector on a coffee table with a TV in the background
Can a projector replace a TV? Here's everything I've learned after years of trying to build my own living room theatre
The player character in Pokemon Legends: Z-A looks at the three starter Pokemon, Totodile, Tepig, and Chikorita.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A's starter trio proves it's time for a new type, and I know what it should be
Bloodsport
The 32 greatest '80s action movies
Monster Hunter Wilds
Playing Monster Hunter Wilds in multiplayer is a confusing mess, but in defiance of Capcom I've jury-rigged a co-op campaign that actually works