Vanessa Kirby Credits Real Baby for Emotional Touch in 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps'

A Unique Emotional Core in Fantastic Four: First Steps

The latest film, Fantastic Four: First Steps, has captured the attention of audiences not just for its thrilling action sequences and star-studded cast, but also for its deeply emotional narrative. What makes this story stand out is its heartfelt core, which was inspired by real-life experiences.

Vanessa Kirby, who portrays Sue Storm, shared that the baby featured in the film was not a digital creation but a real infant who was present throughout the entire production. Speaking about the experience, Kirby highlighted how working with a real baby significantly influenced the emotional tone of the film.

“100% of the film was shot with a real baby,” she said. “Our lead baby, Ada, was a joy to work with. We had several other babies on set who were part of the process. We became very attached to them, and they were an essential part of our journey.”

The film follows the Fantastic Four as they prepare for the arrival of Sue and Reed Richards’ son, Franklin Richards, a character known in the comics as one of the most powerful beings in the Marvel universe. As the team faces off against cosmic entities like Galactus and his herald, Silver Surfer (played by Julia Garner), Sue goes into labor in space and gives birth to Franklin during the chaos.

Kirby described the filming of the birth scene as intense yet meaningful. “It was so cool that, at the midpoint of the movie, it centers on a woman giving birth, supported by three kind and loving men,” she said. “It was refreshing to see a superhero doing something so primal and human. I was excited for that moment.”

Filming in zero gravity presented unique challenges, but the emotional weight of the scene made it worthwhile. “We had an amazing time shooting that sequence in the spaceship. I loved every minute. I lost my voice by the end. We did hundreds of takes. The crew even needed earplugs,” she laughed.

The baby wasn’t just a background element; she was central to the story. Kirby noted that it felt strange when the babies weren’t on set. “It almost became weird if they weren’t there,” she said.

During a particularly emotional night shoot in London, all the babies cried at the same line in Sue’s speech. “I thought, ‘Am I delivering something so bad that they’re crying at the same moment?’” she joked. “Babies are the most natural actors in the world.”

The film builds toward a powerful moment where Sue uses her strength to protect Franklin from Galactus. In the process, she sacrifices herself, only for Franklin, the infant, to bring her back. Kirby emphasized that this scene was all about the love between a mother and her child.

“It was helpful to know that it was a mother’s rage and a mother’s love,” she said. “I wanted it to feel more primal. I was fighting to save my child.”

This bond between Sue and Franklin gives the movie its emotional impact. Kirby felt that placing a baby at the center of a superhero film made it distinct from other Marvel movies. “This baby really is at the heart of the story,” she said. “They’re not just protecting the world. It’s about what this new consciousness represents.”

Kirby, who is also pregnant in real life while filming Avengers: Doomsday, said the experience helped her understand motherhood in a new way. “It certainly taught me about motherhood and my own journey. That can’t be a coincidence,” she said.

Ultimately, while Fantastic Four: First Steps delivers the cosmic action fans expect, what makes it special is something simple—a real baby, held by real actors, telling a story about love, sacrifice, and new life.