It’s official - Vanessa Kirby has joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Sue Storm, better known as the Invisible Woman. And while some fans are still debating whether it’s a left-field casting or a stroke of brilliance, one thing’s clear: this Fantastic Four reboot is swinging for something different.
Kirby, best known for her BAFTA-winning turn as Princess Margaret in The Crown and her death-defying moves in the Mission: Impossible franchise, is now suiting up for superhero duty. But don’t expect a loud, action-heavy performance. Invisible Woman has always been the quiet powerhouse of the team - a blend of intellect, heart, and cloaking technology. Marvel may finally be ready to give her the layered portrayal she’s long deserved.
So, who is Sue Storm? Why was Kirby cast? And what might she bring to a role that’s often flown under the radar? Let’s break it down!
Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm: Everything to know about Marvel’s Invisible Woman
Sue Storm, a.k.a. the Invisible Woman, is one of Marvel’s earliest female superheroes and a founding member of The Fantastic Four. She’s the older sister of Johnny Storm, aka The Human Torch, and the long-time love interest - and later wife- of Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic. But don’t box her into those roles, as she’s a force in her own right. Her powers include turning herself and others invisible and generating powerful force fields that she can then shape into shields, spheres, and weapons. Over the years, Invisible Woman has evolved from the quiet presence in the background to the team’s moral and emotional center. She’s strategic, fiercely protective, and often the calmest person in the room - even when that room is on fire or mid-collapse from interdimensional threats.
Vanessa Kirby isn’t the obvious pick for a Marvel superhero - and that’s part of the appeal. She brings something different to the table: understated intensity, emotional nuance, and a sharp edge beneath all that poise. Whether it’s royalty in The Crown or grief in Pieces of a Woman, which earned her an Oscar nomination, Kirby knows how to play women who feel deeply but hold it together on the surface. She also has action credentials. Her stunts in Mission: Impossible - Fallout and Hobbs & Shaw showed she can handle stunts, sparring, and all the practical chaos that comes with blockbuster filmmaking. Casting her as Sue Storm suggests Marvel wants more than just another action-ready blonde; they want someone who can bring vulnerability and power in equal measure.
If Marvel lets Kirby play to her strengths, this Sue Storm will likely be grounded, emotionally complex, and more central to the story than ever before. She may not be the loudest or flashiest hero in the lineup, but that’s never been Sue’s vibe anyway. Expect a quiet leader - someone who protects before she attacks, who listens before she speaks, but who absolutely won’t hesitate to crush a threat inside a force field if it comes to that. Visually, her powers could open the door for some inventive, stylish sequences. Narratively, she might serve as the glue holding the team and the plot together. With Kirby in the role, we might finally get a Sue Storm who’s written not just as “the girl on the team,” but as the heart of Marvel’s first family.
Vanessa Kirby’s casting as Invisible Woman might raise eyebrows, but it’s also raising expectations. She’s not the loudest choice, but Sue Storm’s never been the loudest hero. She’s the invisible one - until you notice she’s actually been holding everything together. If Marvel plays it right, Kirby’s take on the character could be a fresh and quietly powerful addition to the MCU.
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