The Red Ghost has escaped! Actor John Malkovich will no longer appear in Marvel Studios' "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" as Ivan Kragoff, aka the Red Ghost, one of the earliest villains to battle the superhero quartet in the comics.

Months of speculation over John Malkovich’s “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” character were done in vain. TheWrap has learned Malkovich has been cut from “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” less than two weeks ahead of the film’s July 25 release.

Even the Silver Surfer couldn't have heralded John Malkovich ending up on the cutting room floor for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Malkovich has been cut from the Marvel film by director Matt Shakman less than two weeks ahead of the film's July 25 release,