Vanessa Kirby on Embracing Marvel and the Privilege of 'Avengers: Doomsday'

Vanessa Kirby Embraces the MCU with a New Chapter

Vanessa Kirby found herself effortlessly drawn into the expansive Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) when she was cast as Sue Storm, also known as the Invisible Woman, in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. This role marks the official start of Phase Six for Marvel Studios, and Kirby is excited about the opportunity to bring this iconic character to life. In a recent interview on Happy Sad Confused, the actress shared her journey into the world of the MCU and her experience reprising her role in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.

Kirby expressed how deeply she connected with Sue Storm, especially because of the character’s unique blend of superpowers and personal challenges. “When this one came around, I was so genuinely moved by the fact that this was a woman who was pregnant and was a new mother, and also has these superpowers,” she said. “It helped me ground it in something—trying to understand what it would be like to have both those things happening at the same time was a challenge, but I was grateful for that because it rooted it in this kind of domesticity, in this family and home, which made it easier.”

Unlike many actors, Kirby didn’t go through a traditional audition process. Instead, she met with director Matt Shakman over lunch and later had discussions with Marvel’s top executives, including Kevin Feige. She was immediately drawn to the rich history of the character and the opportunity to explore the ’60s comic book era. “I really liked her so much and because I’d read so many of the comics and she goes through so many different iterations,” Kirby explained. “She becomes Malice, this really dark version of herself for quite a long time, and then she renames herself Invisible Woman having been called Invisible Girl and she goes off with Psycho-Man, like her history is incredible.”

Her confidence in the character translated into a willingness to commit to future MCU projects. “I think it was because I really liked her so much and because I’d read so many of the comics and she goes through so many different iterations,” she added. “There’s so much there to even explore psychologically. I mean, she has a stillborn, and people don’t know that. She’s gone through a lot.”

Kirby also praised her co-stars from First Steps, including Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. “I knew I wouldn’t be without these three actors, and these three actors have genuinely become family,” she said. “I admired them so much, and I knew that we’re a four and the four in the comics are never separated, so I assumed that we’d be together, and that really helped because then you’re not a lone ranger going to new, daunting environments.”

Regarding Avengers: Doomsday, Kirby described the filming experience as thrilling. “I’m loving it, absolutely loving it. It’s been a complete privilege,” she said, adding that she is currently filming while pregnant, calling it the “coolest” experience.

Director Matt Shakman has spoken about how First Steps will set the stage for the Joe and Anthony Russo-directed 2026 film. Although plot details remain under wraps, fans can expect the movie to focus on Dr. Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr., as the central antagonist.

Kirby also highlighted Downey Jr.’s leadership on set. “He’s the most incredible human being, soulful, deep, kind—he’s been an amazing leader to us considering we’re the newbies, and a lot of the others have known this world for a really long time, and he’s been a phenomenal leader,” she said.

The cast of First Steps includes a mix of returning stars and newcomers, such as Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Paul Rudd, Letitia Wright, Florence Pugh, Simu Liu, Tom Hiddleston, Wyatt Russell, David Harbour, Winston Duke, Danny Ramirez, Hannah John-Kamen, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn, James Marsden, Kelsey Grammer, Channing Tatum, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, and Lewis Pullman.

As the MCU continues to expand, Kirby’s role as Sue Storm is just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting journey for both the actor and the fans.