Vanessa Kirby Teases Franklin Richards' Role in Fantastic Four

In "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," we're sure to witness Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch, and The Thing showcasing their incredible powers as they combat Galactus to protect Earth. But could Franklin Richards also join the fight?

In an interview with Empire Magazine, Vanessa Kirby, who portrays Sue Storm, dropped an intriguing hint that has sparked excitement among MCU fans: "Superpowers aren't limited to adults."

Kirby's Sue Storm is pregnant in "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," indicating the MCU will introduce Franklin Richards. This is a significant development for the franchise, as IGN has previously noted. As we stated in April:

For anyone familiar with Fantastic Four comics, this is a major event for the team. Marvel Studios is introducing arguably the most powerful mutant in existence, and potentially his super-genius sister too. Let's examine why Sue's pregnancy carries such weight for the MCU and the broader Marvel multiverse.

Franklin stands among the most powerful beings in the Marvel Universe. He can warp reality and matter at will, even creating entire pocket dimensions from nothing. His abilities also include telepathy, telekinesis, and astral projection.

In essence, Franklin's power on Earth rivals that of cosmic entities like the Celestials and Galactus. He's destined to grow even stronger with age. The Fantastic Four have encountered future adult versions of Franklin, hinting he will one day become an immortal guardian of the entire Marvel Universe.

Considering this, could Franklin be the key to stopping Galactus? Kirby's comment certainly implies we'll see the character display his powers in some capacity.

The cast of "The Fantastic Four" is also confirmed to appear in next year's "Avengers: Doomsday" alongside other established MCU heroes. Perhaps Franklin will play a crucial role in the conflict against Doctor Doom.

Earlier this week, the runtime for "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" was confirmed, making it the longest MCU film since 2023's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Last week, a leaked Snapple promo featuring Ralph Ineson gave us our clearest look yet at the film's version of Galactus, revealing the character's design. This followed a revealing Funko Pop! spoiler for The Fantastic Four: First Steps.