Disney has recently acquired the
“Snow White”
controversy
to subside (thanks to \”Minecraft\”)
), and now they face yet another controversy. The Mouse House is placing significant bets on their upcoming \”Fantastic Four\” movie titled “Fantastic Four: First Steps.” However, the anticipated viewers are reacting strongly following remarks made by two cast members, Vanessa Kirby (who plays Sue Storm/Invisible Woman) and Joseph Quinn (portraying Johnny Storm/Human Torch).
What did they say?
During an interview with
Entertainment Weekly,
Both performers discussed their interpretations of the well-known comic book personas. These remarks have caused some worry among enthusiasts regarding the upcoming movie.
Vanessa Kirby talked about \”gender politics\” concerning the comic book roots of the characters, and Joseph Quinn discussed his take on Johnny Storm as being more gentle, less chauvinistic than traditionally portrayed.
Kirby talks about Sue Storm’s depiction in the 1960s and the issues surrounding gender politics.
If you performed the precise \’60s version of Sue nowadays, people might view her as somewhat submissive. Therefore, understanding how to convey the spirit of what she symbolized for every era—where the dynamics of gender politics varied—and bringing that portrayal to life today has been one of the biggest pleasures of this project.
I\’ve always had a fascination with the complexity of femininity and grappling with what it means to embody multiple roles. How do you embrace being not only the strong, indomitable, empowered female character but also someone capable of giving life—a feat that’s truly superhuman? What resonates with me most is seeing these characters as genuine individuals within chaotic families—people who have their disagreements, attempt resolutions, and sometimes stumble along the way.
When discussing his character’s past depictions, Quinn commented on the necessity for cultural changes.
He comes across with a great deal of swagger, which can be off-putting at times,\” Quinn remarks. \”But he has his humorous side too.\” Quinn continues, \”Both my colleague [Marvel Studios head] Kevin [Feige] and I have discussed past versions of the character and how they reflect our current cultural landscape. Previously, he was portrayed as a womanizer who didn\’t care much for consequences, but does that make him appealing now? Not really. The new take on Johnny is more considerate towards others\’ emotions and ideally shows some understanding of why he seeks such attention.
Fans are not happy.
That\’s why Disney must ensure their actors remain tight-lipped. Since mentioning these political points, regardless of whether the movie centers around them, leads audiences to view it as yet another politically motivated Disney/Marvel production. This feels like part of Phase 4 rather than fitting with Phases 1-3.
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