Jessica Alba recalls her time as Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman, in the Fantastic Four movies with great affection. Despite the mixed reviews and financial returns, she treasures her experience in Marvel’s first family on screen. The journey of Fantastic Four adaptations has been rocky. The 1994 film was made solely to maintain rights, Tim Story’s two movies in the 2000s had average box office performances and were critically panned, and the 2015 reboot was a behind-the-scenes fiasco aptly reflected in its poor reception.
The casting of the Fantastic Four films has often been cited as a reason for their struggles. Critics were harsh on Alba and Ioan Gruffudd, who played Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) in the 2005 and 2007 films. However, over time, Story’s movies have found a more appreciative audience compared to the commercial and critical failures of other adaptations, including the joyless 2015 reboot.
Jessica Alba recently made a comeback with Netflix’s Trigger Warning, but she fondly reminisces about her Fantastic Four days:
“It’s nothing but fond memories. I loved it so much playing that character. I feel like my whole life started in a lot of ways at that moment. I met my life partner, we’re still together, we have three kids. Tim Story, who directed, is still one of my best friends. We have New Year’s Eve together. It was great and she was such a cool, inspiring character and ahead of her time, I would say, in the genre. And still, you still haven’t seen someone who is so nurturing and feminine, but then also a fearsome badass. I haven’t seen that combination again. And so I think she still fills this beautiful kind of space or void in the Marvel universe.”
Despite the ups and downs of the Fantastic Four franchise, the cast members have continued to find success:
- Jessica Alba went on to star in notable films like Sin City (2005), The Love Guru (2008), and Machete (2010). She also co-starred with Gabrielle Union in the TV series L.A.’s Finest.
- Chris Evans, who played Johnny Storm (the Human Torch), achieved global fame as Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
- Michael Chiklis, known as The Thing, appeared in movies like Parker and Hubie Halloween.
- Ioan Gruffudd, Mr. Fantastic, recently starred in Bad Boys: Ride or Die.
Despite the challenges and mixed receptions of past Fantastic Four adaptations, the franchise’s cast members have thrived in their subsequent careers. Alba’s reflections highlight the positive experiences and enduring friendships she formed during her superhero days. With a new Fantastic Four movie slated for 2025, Marvel’s first family continues to live on, carrying the legacy of past films and the promise of future adventures.
