The Invisible Woman's Evolution: Everything We Know About Vanessa Kirby's Sue Storm In The MCU

The Invisible Woman is finally stepping out of the shadows and into the spotlight of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and the anticipation is palpable. As of late 2024, the casting for Marvel Studios' highly-anticipated *Fantastic Four* reboot has been confirmed, with acclaimed British actress Vanessa Kirby set to portray Susan "Sue" Storm, also known as the Invisible Woman. This casting marks a significant step for the character, promising a more complex and powerful iteration than previous live-action attempts.

The new film, titled *Fantastic Four: First Steps* and scheduled for a 2025 release, aims to cement Sue Storm not just as the romantic lead, but as a core pillar of the team. With a powerhouse actress like Kirby taking on the role, fans are eager to see how her talent will elevate the character’s classic powers—invisibility and powerful force fields—to new, dynamic heights within the vast MCU timeline.

Vanessa Kirby: Biography and Career Profile of the MCU's Invisible Woman

Vanessa Nuala Kirby, the actress chosen to bring Sue Storm into the MCU, is a highly respected British stage and screen talent known for her intense, nuanced performances.

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Full Name: Vanessa Nuala Kirby

Born: April 18, 1988 (London, England)

Parents: Jane Kirby (Editor) and Roger Kirby (Retired Prostate Surgeon)

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Breakthrough Role: Princess Margaret in the Netflix historical drama series, *The Crown* (2016–2017).

Major Accolades:

• BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress (for *The Crown*).
• Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival (for *Pieces of a Woman*).
• Academy Award Nomination for Best Actress (for *Pieces of a Woman*).

Notable Filmography Entities:

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• *The Crown* (2016–2017) as Princess Margaret
• *Mission: Impossible – Fallout* (2018) as Alanna Mitsopolis / White Widow
• *Hobbs & Shaw* (2019) as Hattie Shaw
• *Pieces of a Woman* (2020) as Martha Weiss
• *Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One* (2023) as White Widow

Kirby's casting alongside Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm/Human Torch), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (Ben Grimm/The Thing) was officially announced in early 2024, confirming the core family unit for the MCU's *Fantastic Four* film.

The New Sue Storm: Leader, Powerhouse, and Potential Villain

The MCU's approach to Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman, is set to redefine her role from previous film versions. While earlier portrayals often sidelined her as merely the love interest, the current narrative aims to highlight her as a powerful scientific mind and the emotional core of the team.

Elevating Sue Storm’s Powers Beyond Invisibility

In the comics, Sue Storm’s abilities extend far beyond simply turning invisible. She possesses powerful psionic abilities that allow her to generate, manipulate, and project invisible force fields. These force fields can be used offensively as blunt weapons, defensively as shields, or even internally to create concussive blasts or manipulate objects. The latest updates suggest the MCU will finally embrace the full scope of her powers, positioning her as one of the most formidable members of the team.

The Potential Dark Side: Introducing Malice

One of the most exciting and unique pieces of news surrounding Kirby’s portrayal is her expressed interest in exploring Sue Storm’s dark alter-ego, Malice, the Mistress of Hate. In Marvel Comics lore, Malice is a dark persona that manifests within Sue when she is pushed to extreme emotional limits, often driven by intense anger or rage. This entity is a reflection of Sue's suppressed darkness and can take control, turning her into a formidable villain.

Kirby has mentioned keeping "some tones of Malice" in her character, suggesting that the darkness is an inherent part of the character's journey, even if the full Malice persona does not appear in the first film. This narrative thread adds a layer of depth and complexity, allowing the Invisible Woman to grapple with her own internal power and emotional control, a theme rarely explored in previous live-action iterations.

A Look Back: The Live-Action Legacy of the Invisible Woman

Vanessa Kirby is the fourth actress to portray Sue Storm in a major live-action film, following a legacy that spans three distinct eras of comic book cinema. Understanding this history is crucial to appreciating the significance of the MCU’s fresh approach.

1. Rebecca Staab (1994)

The very first live-action version of Sue Storm was played by Rebecca Staab in the unreleased 1994 film *The Fantastic Four*. This low-budget adaptation, produced by Roger Corman, was never officially distributed, but it served as the initial attempt to bring the team to life.

2. Jessica Alba (2005 & 2007)

The most widely recognized live-action Sue Storm is Jessica Alba, who starred in *Fantastic Four* (2005) and its sequel, *Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer* (2007). Alba’s portrayal brought the character to a mainstream audience, though the films often focused more on the romantic relationship with Reed Richards and the lighter aspects of her invisibility power.

3. Kate Mara (2015)

Kate Mara took on the role in the critically panned 2015 reboot, *Fant4stic*. This version attempted a darker, more grounded tone, but the film's troubled production and jagged script resulted in a portrayal of Sue Storm that many fans felt was underdeveloped and did not do justice to the character's potential as a scientist and powerhouse.

The MCU Difference

The MCU’s casting of Vanessa Kirby, an actress celebrated for portraying complex, strong women, signals a clear intention to move past previous limitations. By positioning her alongside the intellectual Reed Richards and the fiery Johnny Storm, the Invisible Woman is expected to finally receive the depth, agency, and power display she commands in the source material, potentially serving as the true emotional and strategic leader of the Fantastic Four. The exploration of entities like the Cosmic Ray source of their powers and the internal struggle with Malice ensures that the MCU's Sue Storm will be a central, multifaceted character in the next generation of Marvel storytelling.