Vanessa Kirby Says She Is “Dying to Play” Malice, Sue Storm’s Dark Side, in the MCU
Vanessa Kirby is excited about the future of her role as Sue Storm in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, especially when it comes to playing Sue’s darker side, Malice. The actress, who stars in the hit movie “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” shared her eagerness to bring this complex character to life.
The movie, which recently hit theaters, has been a big success with both critics and fans. Vanessa Kirby plays Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman, alongside Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm.
Sue is shown as the heart of the team, fiercely protective of her family and willing to risk everything for them.
Kirby is juggling a busy schedule, having just finished filming “Avengers: Doomsday,” while also going on a worldwide press tour with her co-stars. On top of all that, she’s pregnant with her first child.
Speaking to Variety, she described how the experience of playing Sue has connected deeply with her own journey into motherhood. She said, “It certainly taught me about motherhood, and my own motherhood journey. That can’t be a coincidence.”
The film shows Sue pregnant and facing big questions about her unborn son Franklin’s safety because of their superpowers. When the cosmic villain Galactus threatens Earth, Sue and her team try to stop him in space.
She gives birth in zero gravity and fiercely protects her child, even sacrificing herself to save him. These moments showcase both Sue’s strength and love.
What many fans might not know is that in the comics, Sue Storm has a darker alter ego called Malice. Vanessa Kirby is very interested in this side of the character. She explained to Variety how Malice’s story is powerful and complex. Malice comes from a difficult background, losing her mother in a crash, her father spiraling into alcoholism, going to prison, and eventually dying. Sue had to grow up fast, taking care of her brother Johnny as an orphan.
“Itching! I’m dying to do Malice. She’s come from a really tough background. She lost her mother in a car crash. Her dad tried to save her mother. He couldn’t. He then spiraled, became an alcoholic, got locked up in prison for murdering a loan shark, and then died. Sue had to become a mother to Johnny. They were orphans. They had to fight for themselves.“
But despite this dark past, Malice chose to stay kind and warm-hearted. Kirby said, “What I loved about her was that she chose a path that was inherently a positive one. She chose to keep her heart open and to stay warm.”
She also pointed out that Sue’s powers are not just defensive or protective. In the comics, Sue can be deadly. There was a line in a deleted scene with Mole Man where she said, “I could give you an aneurysm if I wanted to in two seconds.” She explained that Sue can use her force fields in lethal ways, but she chooses to be a force for good.
Kirby loves the idea that Sue’s character isn’t just a simple hero. She has the power to do harm but decides not to. “It felt so real to me that somebody that’s trying to be a force for good also has the capacity, like we all do, for the light and the dark.”
The actress also talked about how Sue’s journey in the comics involves a transformation from “Invisible Girl” to “Invisible Woman” after confronting Malice, her dark side. This change represents her growth from a girl to a woman, facing the hardest parts of herself. Kirby said, “There’s something about meeting the hardest parts of yourself in Malice that felt extremely poignant to me. I’m really hopeful I might be allowed to be Malice at some point for her.”
For now, fans can enjoy Vanessa Kirby’s powerful portrayal of Sue Storm, but the promise of seeing Malice come to life in the MCU is something she clearly can’t wait for. The actress’s passion for this complex character adds an exciting layer to what the future might hold for the Fantastic Four on the big screen.
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