With just a week until the release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, director Matt Shakman has shed light on the compelling dynamic between Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards, a.k.a. Mister Fantastic, and Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman. Unlike many other Marvel teams, the Fantastic Four embodies a family-like bond, with Reed serving as the leader and Sue taking the role of his trusted partner.
As the ominous threat of Galactus looms overhead, the couple must balance their superhero duties with the daunting task of becoming parents for the first time. In an enlightening interview with GamesRadar+, Shakman emphasized how Reed and Sue “really complete each other.” He elaborated:
He’s the smartest person in the universe, but I often say Reed Richards is great for all mankind and struggles with individual men. Sue, in some ways, is the most emotionally intelligent person in the world, and so she’s able to, I think, bring the everyday to his life, and he’s able to bring the universe to hers. It’s a little bit like Kirk and Spock in Star Trek in some way, right? The heart and mind coming together, completing each other.
Shakman argues that this relationship is fundamental to the group’s cohesion, stating, “It’s their unity that creates their strength. You know, it’s true for all four of them, and it’s definitely true for them as a couple.“
His analogy of Sue Storm and Reed Richards to Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock resonates deeply. Though the Star Trek duo were not romantic partners, their partnership was pivotal in leading a complex team. With Spock as the scientific grounding and Kirk as the impulsive leader, this dynamic subtly shifts to showcase Sue as a formidable leader in her own right.
Delving deeper into Reed’s character, Shakman noted, “Reed is always locked in his lab trying to solve everything. He’s five minutes away from destroying the world or saving it at any moment, and I love the idea of taking that mindset of solving everything and applying it to having a child, which is a mystery that you cannot solve.“
Shakman poignantly remarked that “love is a mystery that you cannot write an equation for.” He further clarified, “Reed loves his wife, but she’s the one thing he can never solve, right?” This assertion highlights the struggles both Spock and Mister Fantastic face in forging deep connections with those they cherish.
Sue and Reed stand out as one of the most distinctive comic book couples, and Shakman’s deep grasp of their relationship bodes well for the film’s direction. With early reviews glowing about The Fantastic Four: First Steps, anticipation continues to build for what promises to be a remarkable entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The film is set for release on July 25, 2025, with a runtime of 115 minutes and an intriguing cast that includes Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm and Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards. As audiences gather to witness their journey, it’s clear that this epic will redefine what it means to be a family in the face of galactic challenges.
For anyone excited about the MCU, this carefully crafted union of heart and intellect is bound to resonate just as strongly as other iconic duos in cinematic history.