Fantastic Four Deleted Scene Could Have Saved a Villain’s Role

Marvel Studios has released one of the deleted scenes from The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and it sheds light on a villain who deserved far more screen time. Fans have long noted how the final cut removed major story beats, trimming the runtime to under two hours and cutting out smaller but important villains such as Paul Walter Hauser’s Mole Man and John Malkovich’s Red Ghost.

What Was Mole Man’s Original Role in Fantastic Four?

Mole Man, played by Hauser, was first introduced in the movie’s TV special. In it, he attempted to steal the Pan Am Building for Subterranea, only to be stopped by Marvel’s First Family. A surprising moment of diplomacy followed when Sue Storm convinced him to pursue peace. Mole Man admitted, “I don’t trust surface dwellers, I never have. But I do trust Sue.”

However, beyond this introduction, Mole Man barely appeared in the movie. His only other notable moment came when Sue persuaded him to allow New York citizens to evacuate into Subterranea as Galactus approached Earth.

What Happened in the Deleted Subterranea Scene?

The newly released scene shows Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm traveling underground to confront Mole Man after rumors of revolt. During their meeting, Mole Man complained of people living in sewage under Staten Island. Sue assured him her Future Foundation was already addressing the issue, eventually striking a deal to employ Subterranea’s workers to fix the problem.

This scene, subtle as it may be, added layers to Mole Man’s character and highlighted his reluctant but growing trust in Sue.

Why Should Marvel Have Kept the Scene?

The deleted sequence would not have solved all of Mole Man’s problems, but it would have provided much-needed depth to his character arc. Without it, his sudden cooperation during the climax felt abrupt. Including the scene would have also maximized Hauser’s performance, a missed opportunity given his critically acclaimed work in Black Bird and Richard Jewell.

What About Red Ghost?

Unfortunately, John Malkovich’s Red Ghost did not make it into the deleted scenes collection. Reports suggested his role involved building teleporters with the help of his Super Apes to fight Galactus. Director Matt Shakman has hinted that both Mole Man and Red Ghost could return in future projects, leaving the door open for the sequel.