Overview

• Vanessa Kirby, who confirmed her first pregnancy in May, headlines the MCU Phase Six opener The Fantastic Four: The First Steps as a very pregnant Sue Storm
• Kirby says embodying a pregnant superhero highlighted her character’s balance of strength and vulnerability and helped her prepare for motherhood
• Critics are questioning the film’s reliance on a mother’s self-sacrifice to protect her child, arguing that the trope has become outdated in superhero narratives
• Media discussion following the July 25 premiere has reignited calls for more nuanced portrayals of motherhood that do not hinge on extreme personal sacrifice
• The First Steps also introduces Franklin Richards and lays groundwork for future MCU multiverse crossovers with its family-centered storyline