Marvel’s Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces a new era for the franchise, featuring a remarkable cast that includes two of the UK’s brightest talents — Vanessa Kirby and Joseph Quinn. They portray siblings Sue and Johnny Storm, known to fans as the Invisible Woman and the Human Torch. The pair are joined by Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm. For Kirby and Quinn, the film marks a significant milestone in careers that have been steadily ascending in recent years.
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Vanessa Kirby, a seasoned theatre performer turned screen sensation, began her acting journey on stage, earning early acclaim for her roles in All My Sons, Ghosts, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Octagon Theatre in Bolton. She later transitioned to television with appearances in The Hour and The Frankenstein Chronicles, before achieving widespread recognition as Princess Margaret in Netflix’s The Crown. Her portrayal earned her a BAFTA and opened doors to major roles in action films like Mission: Impossible – Fallout and Hobbs & Shaw. In 2020, Kirby won Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival for Pieces of a Woman, further solidifying her status as a leading force in the industry.
Joseph Quinn, on the other hand, rose to global fame through his performance as Eddie Munson in Stranger Things series 4. Though the Netflix hit catapulted him to international recognition, Quinn had built his career steadily with roles in BBC’s Dickensian, Howard’s End, and ITV’s Les Misérables. His film debut came with Overlord in 2018, and he later appeared in acclaimed projects such as Gladiator II, Warfare, and A Quiet Place: Day One. Quinn has spoken candidly about the surreal nature of fame, but says his goal remains to work on “stories that are confrontational” and that respect the audience’s intelligence.
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Both actors are poised for even greater prominence. Kirby, who also founded her own production company Aluna Entertainment to champion authentic female narratives, continues to challenge the industry’s status quo. Quinn, meanwhile, is set to portray George Harrison in Sam Mendes’ ambitious Beatles biopic series, and will appear in future Marvel titles Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. With Fantastic Four, these two British talents reaffirm their place among Hollywood’s most promising stars — bringing their distinct artistry and depth to the Marvel Universe.
