An MCU actor formally confirms the villain they’re taking part in in The Incredible 4: First Steps and divulges whether or not they’ll truly 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 concentrate on Galactus as its primary 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.ok.a. Mole Man, and states that he seemingly will not be lower from the film. Previous to Hauser’s affirmation, a comic book ebook 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 under:
ScreenRant: Paul, you’ve got received a giant 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 feel so. I am fairly certain. Yeah. No, it is simply a kind of issues the place I’ve discovered that in an important movie, there [are] quite a lot of issues that they are attempting to perform, and generally they nip and so they tuck. I am certain one or two of my issues have been lower too, from what I heard, however I feel 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 so much such as you.
Paul Walter Hauser: That is the prequel. Yeah.
SR: Appears to be like like Mole Man.
Paul Walter Hauser: Oh, I am saying it now. I’m Mole Man.
SR: We are able to verify.
Paul Walter Hauser: Yeah. You and somebody yesterday are the one two individuals I’ve confirmed that with, journalistically. But when they’re so daring as to make use of my likeness in a comic book ebook, I am daring sufficient to say, “Yeah, bro.”
SR: Wonderful.
Paul Walter Hauser: Harvey Elder.
Mole Man Lastly Makes His Reside-Motion Debut In The MCU
Because the Nineteen Nineties, there have been 4 live-action Incredible 4 films, all of which have featured Physician Doom as a major villain. In 2025, Marvel Studios’ The Incredible 4: First Steps lastly breaks that pattern with Galactus as its primary 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 group’s lengthy record of recurring enemies.
The Incredible 4: First Steps lastly shines a lightweight 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 look in The Incredible 4: First Steps is unknown. Nevertheless, 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 reasonably than a top-tier risk. Nevertheless, an thrilling evolution of Paul Walter Hauser’s MCU function 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 missed till now.
Associated
The MCU Units Up Its New Thanos-Stage Villain To Be The Incredible 4’s Subsequent Film Antagonist In accordance To 2025 Sequel Principle
The Incredible 4: First Steps’ sequel might have already got gotten its primary villain, who made his debut proper earlier than the group’s first MCU film.
As soon as within the MCU, Paul Walter Hauser’s Mole Man may face different heroes. Spider-Man, Daredevil, and the Avengers may cope with Mole Man and his subterranean military in future movies or exhibits that might cement Harvey Elder as greater than an FF-exclusive foil. Whereas Mole Man is not essentially 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.
The Incredible 4: First Steps
Launch Date
July 25, 2025
Runtime
115 minutes
Director
Matt Shakman
Writers
Jeff Kaplan, Josh Friedman, Ian Springer, Eric Pearson
Reed Richards / Mr. Incredible
Vanessa Kirby
Sue Storm / The Invisible Girl
Johnny Storm / Human Torch
Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Ben Grimm / The Factor
