First Steps Actor Addresses Current Minimize Character And Whether or not His Marvel Villain Is Nonetheless In The MCU Film

An MCU actor formally confirms the villain they’re enjoying in The Incredible 4: First Steps and divulges whether or not they’ll really seem within the film. Shortly earlier than The Incredible 4: First Steps‘ launch, it was confirmed that John Malkovich’s Crimson Ghost was lower from the film. Crimson Ghost is a outstanding recurring antagonist within the Incredible 4’s comics, which suggests the Section 6 movie is placing all its give attention to Galactus as its essential villain.

In an unique interview with ScreenRant‘s Liam Crowley, Paul Walter Hauser confirms he’ll seem in The Incredible 4: First Steps as Harvey Elder a.okay.a. Mole Man, and states that he seemingly will not be lower from the film. Previous to Hauser’s affirmation, a comic book guide prequel to The Incredible 4: First Steps featured Mole Man as a secondary character with a robust resemblance to Hauser. Learn the MCU actor’s full feedback beneath:

ScreenRant: Paul, you have obtained an enormous couple of weeks arising. Incredible 4 is popping out subsequent Friday.

Paul Walter Hauser: Yeah.

ScreenRant: John Malkovich was simply confirmed to be lower. Are you able to alleviate our fears? Are you on this film?

Paul Walter Hauser: I believe so. I am fairly certain. Yeah. No, it is simply a kind of issues the place I’ve discovered that in a vital movie, there [are] plenty of issues that they are making an attempt to perform, and typically they nip they usually tuck. I am certain one or two of my issues have been lower too, from what I heard, however I believe I am nonetheless within the film.

SR: There’s an official tie-in comedian that is been going round.

Paul Walter Hauser: Proper, proper.

SR: Are you aware what that is?

Paul Walter Hauser: Sure.

SR: It appears to be like loads such as you.

Paul Walter Hauser: That is the prequel. Yeah.

SR: Seems like Mole Man.

Paul Walter Hauser: Oh, I am saying it now. I’m Mole Man.

SR: We will affirm.

Paul Walter Hauser: Yeah. You and somebody yesterday are the one two folks I’ve confirmed that with, journalistically. But when they’re so daring as to make use of my likeness in a comic book guide, I am daring sufficient to say, “Yeah, bro.”

SR: Superb.

Paul Walter Hauser: Harvey Elder.

Mole Man Lastly Makes His Stay-Motion Debut In The MCU

For the reason that Nineteen Nineties, there have been 4 live-action Incredible 4 films, all of which have featured Physician Doom as a main villain. In 2025, Marvel Studios’ The Incredible 4: First Steps lastly breaks that pattern with Galactus as its essential antagonist, whereas Physician Doom makes his official MCU debut in Avengers: Doomsday. Likewise, all Incredible 4 films launched earlier than the 2025 reboot had ignored the crew’s lengthy listing of recurring enemies.

The Incredible 4: First Steps lastly shines a light-weight on iconic Marvel villains like Mole Man, and it could have marked the primary live-action look by Crimson Ghost. Whether or not these two are the one two secondary villains initially deliberate to seem in The Incredible 4: First Steps is unknown. Nonetheless, Mole Man’s debut, on the very least, is a welcome addition to MCU lore.

Mole Man Deserves To Develop into A Recurring MCU Villain

Historically portrayed as a considerably campy antagonist, Mole Man has lengthy been handled as a nuisance slightly than a top-tier menace. Nonetheless, an thrilling evolution of Paul Walter Hauser’s MCU position could be for him to rebuild Subterranea on Earth-616 after the occasions of The Incredible 4: First Steps and Avengers: Doomsday. Making Mole Man a recurring MCU villain would do justice to a personality who has been largely ignored till now.

As soon as within the MCU, Paul Walter Hauser’s Mole Man may face different heroes. Spider-Man, Daredevil, and the Avengers may take care of Mole Man and his subterranean military in future movies or exhibits that would cement Harvey Elder as greater than an FF-exclusive foil. Whereas Mole Man is not probably the most highly effective of the Incredible 4‘s foes, he is iconic and has the potential to be greater than a one-off punchline character.