Summary

• Jessica Alba has expressed her interest in returning as Sue Storm's Invisible Woman from Fox's original Fantastic Four movies.
• These comments make me think it's even more likely that the original Fantastic Four team could reunite in the MCU's future, perhaps even including Chris Evans' Human Torch.
• Bringing the original Fantastic Four team back together shouldn't just be fan service, however, as Ioan Gruffudd's reprisal could debut the Council of Reeds.

Ahead of the release of Marvel Studios' MCU. Marvel Studios confirmed the cast of The Fantastic Four on Valentine's Day, revealing Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Marvel's First Family. I have faith that the MCU's The Fantastic Four will be stronger than Fox's previous movies, but I would love to see the Phase 6 movie pay homage to the Fantastic Four's live-action history.

Before Marvel Studios acquired the film rights to the Fantastic Four in 2019, they were held by 20th Century Fox. The studio that produced the X-Men franchise also made several attempts at bringing the Fantastic Four to life on-screen. I am one of many who hated 2015's Fantastic Four, but Fox's original Fantastic Four duology was more popular, though still not without its problems. After one actor's recent comments, the possibility of a Fantastic Four reunion in the MCU seems even more likely, which would be a great way to address the original movie's issues.

Jessica Alba Would Love To Return As Sue Storm’s Invisible Woman

Jessica Alba Debuted As Sue Storm's Invisible Woman In 2005's Fantastic Four

Honey and Sin City star Jessica Alba portrayed Sue Storm's Invisible Woman in Fox's original Fantastic Four movies. While her portrayal in Fantastic Four received some criticism, Alba has expressed pride about her performance as one of the first female live-action superheroes. She reiterated this during a recent retrospective interview with Entertainment Tonight, during which she also voiced her interest in returning as Sue Storm. Noting that she would "jump at the chance," Alba creates the possibility for the original Fantastic Four team to reunite in the MCU.

I loved those movies, and they also, they changed my life, that series, that's when I met my husband... No one's talked to me about it, but I would, I would jump at the chance. Yeah, it was such a, I loved that character, and I felt like she was so unique in the Marvel universe at the time, you know, there weren't a ton of female superheroes like her.

I Want To See Fox’s Original Fantastic Four Team Back In Action

Fox's Original Fantastic Four Team Hasn't Been Seen Since 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer

Since Jessica Alba would jump at the chance to reprise her role of Sue Storm, I would love for her to be ed by her three co-stars from the original Fantastic Four duology. Sue Storm's brother, Johnny Storm's Human Torch, was portrayed by none other than Chris Evans, who went on to have a cornerstone role in the MCU as Steve Rogers' Captain America. Sue's love interest, Reed Richards' Mister Fantastic, was played by Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd, while his best friend, Ben Grimm's Thing, was played by Michael Chiklis with the help of a practical rock-like suit.

Together, this team fought Doctor Doom, the Silver Surfer, and a version of Galactus, proving their strength and team-working ability during each battle. While these movies had their problems, I loved the depiction of the Fantastic Four's important family dynamic in these projects, and the action sequences were also pulled off well, giving each hero their time to shine and showcase their strange abilities. It would be incredible to see this team reunite in the MCU, particularly with the benefit of improved visual effects and cleaner storytelling techniques.

Chris Evans’ MCU Return Would Be Brilliant In A Fantastic Four Reunion

Before Captain America, Chris Evans Played Johnny Storm's Human Torch In Fox's Fantastic Four Movies

Jessica Alba's possible return as Sue Storm has me very excited, but it's another member of the original Fantastic Four team that I want to see come back more than any other. 2005's Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel marked Chris Evans' first foray into the world of superheroes, acting as practice before he debuted as Steve Rogers in 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger. Evans went on to appear in at least one MCU project every year between 2011 and his departure in 2019's Avengers: Endgame, making him one of the most crucial actors in the franchise.

Since he retired as an Avenger in Endgame, many, including myself, have expressed hopes that Steve Rogers' Captain America could return in the MCU's future. Chris Evans has commented on his potential MCU return, but this has seen him claim that Rogers is important to him, and he wouldn't want to return just to ruin his story. However, bringing Evans back to the MCU as Johnny Storm would side-step this issue, and could actually benefit his Human Torch after his appearances in the somewhat-disappointing Fantastic Four franchise.

2005’s Fantastic Four Coming Back Shouldn’t Just Be Fan Service, It Could Be Important To The MCU

Bringing Back Ioan Gruffudd's Reed Richards Could Debut An Important Multiverse Team In The MCU

Bringing back the original Fantastic Four team in the MCU could be seen by many to be just fan service, playing up to audience expectations rather than making sense for the story. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was previously criticized for this, especially by casting popular fan-cast John Krasinski as Reed Richards. Whether this Fantastic Four team reunites in The Fantastic Four, Avengers: Secret Wars, or another MCU project, however, it doesn't need to be just fan service, as Ioan Gruffudd's return as Reed Richards could be incredibly important.

The Fantastic Four is expected to be a multiversal project.

Should Pedro Pascal's new Mister Fantastic come face-to-face with his multiversal variants, perhaps including Gruffudd, Krasinski, and maybe even Miles Teller - though I'd rather he stay away - Marvel Studios could set up the Council of Reeds in the MCU. The Council of Reeds is a crucial multiversal group in Marvel Comics, formed with the aim of making the multiverse a better place. Since The Fantastic Four is expected to be a multiversal project, bringing back Gruffudd, Krasinski, and Teller as the Council of Reeds would be an inspired decision.