The cast of MCU’s The Fantastic Four has been officially confirmed by Marvel Studios in a special Valentine’s Day update. According to the announcement, Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon-Moss Bachrach will make up Marvel’s first family as Reed Richards aka Mr Fantastic, Sue Storm aka Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm aka Human Torch, and Ben Grimm aka The Thing.
Interestingly, the role of Sue Storm was rumored to have been offered to Margot Robbie before Kirby ultimately won the part. Robbie’s potential involvement in the MCU caused quite a bit of worry among DC fans who feared that she would part ways with her memorable character Harley Quinn forever. But The Crown star’s confirmation as Invisible Woman has provided a ray of hope for DC buffs and a possible outlet for James Gunn to bring back the charismatic anti-hero made popular by Robbie.
Vanessa Kirby Could Be The Lucky Charm For James Gunn’s DC
Sometimes, what appears to be a disappointing outcome could actually be just the opposite depending on the situation at hand. This could be true for James Gunn’s DC and Margot Robbie who played Harley Quinn in the franchise. With the significant changes that took place after Gunn took over, there were speculations regarding Robbie’s future as the anti-hero in the newly-minted DCU.
In addition, an inside source on X hinted that the Oscar-nominated actor was being considered for the MCU for the role of Sue Storm in The Fantastic Four. This instilled fear among fans of the franchise who believed that her association with DC and Harley Quinn would cease to exist. But as it turned out, there may still be a silver lining for Robbie and the James Gunn-led DC franchise.
After the official confirmation that British star Vanessa Kirby has been cast as Sue Storm, there is hope that the I, Tonya actor will return at some point to reprise her iconic DC role in James Gunn’s DCU. Her rumored rejection from the MCU as Invisible Woman could be exactly what the franchise needs to work on a narrative that brings Harley Quinn into the mix. It now remains to be seen if Gunn uses this opportunity to expand on the character.
James Gunn’s Plans For Harley Quinn and Margot Robbie
Following James Gunn’s appointment as DC head, the franchise has seen a major reboot starting from the departure of Henry Cavill as Superman and the subsequent exits of Ben Affleck and Gal Gadot. Gunn’s vision for the DCU has also resulted in the introduction of various new plotlines and characters that will be developed over the course of time in an attempt to get DC back on track after a spate of disappointments.
While many DC fans have been speculating about the fate of Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn and how the charismatic character can fit into Gunn’s plans, the former Marvel director gave them hope when he commented on the future of the character and Robbie’s involvement in the franchise. In a statement on Threads (via Screen Rant), Gunn said,
“I haven’t talked to Margot about Harley for a long time. But I’d love to work with her again as Harley or as someone else. There are no plans at this time for anyone else to play Harley. I mean, other than in [Joker: Folie à Deux] or the animated shows.”
This is surely a shot in the arm for DC fans who have always maintained that Robbie is one of the best things to have happened to the franchise despite the Suicide Squad films failing at the box office. Time will tell if Gunn walks the talk and finds a place for Harley Quinn in the DCU.
