Vanessa Kirby Craves Playing Malice, Sue Storm's Dark Side in the MCU

A New Chapter for Sue Storm in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Vanessa Kirby is thrilled about the evolving role of Sue Storm, also known as the Invisible Woman, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actress, who recently starred in the highly anticipated film “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” has expressed her excitement about exploring the more complex and darker aspects of her character, particularly the alter ego known as Malice.

This new installment in the franchise has been well-received by both critics and fans alike. Kirby plays Sue Storm alongside a stellar cast that includes Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm. Sue is portrayed as the emotional core of the team, showing unwavering love and protection for her family, even when faced with extraordinary challenges.

Kirby’s current schedule is packed, as she has just wrapped filming on “Avengers: Doomsday” while simultaneously engaging in a global press tour with her co-stars. Additionally, she is expecting her first child, which has given her a unique perspective on her role as Sue.

In an interview with Variety, Kirby shared how her portrayal of Sue has resonated deeply with her own personal journey into motherhood. She noted, “It certainly taught me about motherhood, and my own motherhood journey. That can’t be a coincidence.” The film highlights Sue’s experience of being pregnant and grappling with the safety of her unborn son, Franklin, due to their superpowers. As the cosmic threat of Galactus looms, Sue and her team must fight to protect Earth, culminating in a dramatic birth in zero gravity and a fierce defense of her child.

What many fans may not be aware of is that in the original comics, Sue Storm has a darker counterpart named Malice. Kirby is particularly drawn to this aspect of the character. She explained to Variety that Malice’s story is both powerful and intricate. According to the comics, Malice comes from a difficult background, having lost her mother in a car accident, watching her father spiral into alcoholism, and eventually facing imprisonment and death. Sue had to grow up quickly, taking on the responsibility of caring for her brother Johnny as an orphan.

“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.”

Despite this dark past, Malice chooses to remain kind and warm-hearted. Kirby emphasized, “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 solely defensive. In the comics, Sue has the potential to be lethal. A deleted scene featuring Mole Man included a line where Sue says, “I could give you an aneurysm if I wanted to in two seconds.” Kirby explained that while Sue can use her force fields in deadly ways, she consistently chooses to be a force for good.

Kirby appreciates that Sue is not just a simple hero. She possesses the power to cause harm but consistently chooses to act with compassion. “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 character’s journey in the comics involves a transformation from “Invisible Girl” to “Invisible Woman” after confronting Malice, her dark side. This change symbolizes Sue’s growth from a girl to a woman, facing the most challenging 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 Kirby’s compelling performance as Sue Storm. However, the prospect of seeing Malice brought to life in the MCU is something she clearly looks forward to. Her enthusiasm for this complex character adds an exciting dimension to what the future may hold for the Fantastic Four on the big screen.