Inside THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS - Redefining Johnny and Sue Storm For The MCU’s 1960s Multiverse
Marvel’s Fantastic Four: First Steps is a full reimagining of this epic Marvel story, one that plants the iconic team in an alternate-reality 1960s. And we are going to see some changes made to Johnny and Sue Storm.
Director Matt Shakman and stars Joseph Quinn and Vanessa Kirby are sharing some details on how this new version of the Fantastic Four is stepping away from past iterations and into something richer, deeper, and messier.
Shakman told Entertainment Weekly:
“We knew that we'd be on another Earth, so we had a chance to reinvent what the '60s looked like. I was really interested in imagining the Fantastic Four being astronauts.
“Instead of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin going to the moon, what if it was Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben who were really the first to go into outer space, the first to push those boundaries?”
This version of the '60s where Reed Richards' scientific genius actually moved the needle of human progres, and fast with flying cars, and the energy of an era fueled by possibility, all through a Marvel lens.
Quinn’s take on Johnny “The Human Torch” Storm burns a little differently this time around. He explains:
“He's a man that leads with a lot of bravado, which can be an affront sometimes. But also he's funny. Myself and [Marvel Studios boss] Kevin [Feige] were speaking about previous iterations of him and where we are culturally. He was branded as this womanizing, devil-may-care guy, but is that sexy these days? I don't think so.
“This version of Johnny is less callous with other people's feelings, and hopefully there's a self-awareness about what's driving that attention-seeking behavior.”
Shakman backed that up, saying:
“He is really smart. He's on that spaceship for a reason, and I think sometimes people forget that in various comic stories, he's been one of the most heroic of them, even if he's undercutting his heroism at every turn through humor. He's Sue's brother, which means they are cut from similar cloth.”
Kirby’s Invisible Woman is taking on more than invisibility powers. She’s pregnant, she’s powerful, and her character has layers.
“Matt and I were really aware that there hasn't really been a mother with a baby in these superhero archetypes women have been getting.
“One of the things I love most from Sue's history is when she becomes Malice, and all her dark stuff comes out. I was obsessed with that chapter of her life.
“So I wanted to make sure that there were tones of Malice in there with her, that she wasn't just the stereotype of a goody, sweet mother.”
Kirby is looking to hold back when it comes to exploring the full range of her character’s emotional and physical strength. She added:
“I've always been really interested in the mess of femininity, and how can you be both? How can you be all the things? Not just the tough, invincible, powerful woman, but also a mother who gives birth, which is itself a superhero act.
“I love that these characters are real humans in a messy family who argue and try to work it out and get things wrong.”
Shakman calls her “the most emotionally intelligent person on the planet,” noting she and Reed are “building an idealistic society.” Which makes sense, considering she’s already helped “achieve global demilitarization and peace.”
The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters July 25, 2025.