Vanessa Kirby Shares How MCU’s Biggest Stars Offered Her Important Advice: “It’s Like a Community”
Vanessa Kirby is joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Sue Storm in the upcoming film Fantastic Four: First Steps. Before stepping into her new role, she received advice and support from some of the MCU’s biggest stars, including Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, and Mark Ruffalo.
Kirby described the MCU as “like a community” where the actors look out for each other, adding, “It’s like an extended family, especially when you’re involved in projects like Avengers. If we interact with them, it’s going to be really fun.”
In the new Fantastic Four movie, Kirby’s character Sue Storm is more than just a superhero. She’s also a wife, a leader in the Future Foundation, and a soon-to-be mother. Kirby shared how Sue’s role goes beyond the usual superhero story. “You may not feel like a superhero, but your identity changes so much when you navigate the world with a new perspective,” she said, highlighting the emotional growth her character experiences.
This film takes a fresh approach by skipping the origin story of the Fantastic Four. Instead, it drops viewers into a 1960s-style retro-futuristic Earth, where the team must defend their world against the cosmic entity Galactus, who destroys planets to survive.
Pedro Pascal leads as Reed Richards, while Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Joseph Quinn play Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm. Julia Garner portrays the Silver Surfer, Galactus’s herald, who moves with a graceful, almost dance-like style, as she explained.
Ralph Ineson plays the towering Galactus, fully armored and described by director Matt Shakman as a “humongous, 14-billion-year-old, planet-devouring cosmic vampire.” Ineson sees Galactus not as evil but as a force of nature simply doing what he must.
Other cast members include John Malkovich and Paul Walter Hauser in roles that haven’t been revealed yet. The film also features the robot H.E.R.B.I.E., voiced by Matthew Wood, and includes Natasha Lyonne and Sarah Niles in supporting parts. A baby actor plays Franklin Richards, the son of Sue and Reed.
Rumors suggest Robert Downey Jr. might appear as Doctor Doom in a post-credits scene, though the director has said that Doom is not part of the main story.
Filming began in mid-2024 and wrapped by November. The production took place mainly in England and Spain, with Pinewood Studios as a key location. The film is set to be released on July 25, 2025, kicking off Phase Six of the MCU, and a sequel is already in the works.
This new Fantastic Four project came after the 2015 film’s poor reception. After Disney acquired Fox in 2019, Marvel Studios took over the franchise. Initially, Jon Watts was attached to direct but later stepped down, with Matt Shakman taking over the role. The script underwent several rewrites, with Josh Friedman and Eric Pearson contributing to the final version.
There was some buzz about John Krasinski possibly reprising his role as Reed Richards after his cameo in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but the studio chose to cast a new actor for this main MCU storyline.
Director Shakman emphasized the film’s focus on family, hope, and optimism. It promises a fresh take on the beloved superhero team.
From what we’ve seen so far, the film looks exciting, with a strong cast and a new approach that could resonate well with fans. What do you think about this new direction for the Fantastic Four? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
