No, you did not blink and miss it. John Malkovich will no longer appear in Marvel Studios’ upcoming tentpole The Fantastic Four: First Steps, despite having filmed scenes as the villain Ivan Kragoff, also known as the Red Ghost.

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,