This Valentine’s Day, Marvel Studios finally announced the cast for the Fantastic Four reboot. The MCU finally has the new cast members joining the fam, and audiences will see Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn as the First Family of Marvel. Pascal will play the Fantastic leader, Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Kirby will play Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn will be Johnny Storm/the Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach will play Ben Grimm/The Thing.
Ever since the casting was revealed, while most fans seem excited, as they were eagerly waiting to know who will play these beloved characters in this latest iteration, there are some who are not very happy with the names announced. The most talked about of the lot has been Pedro Pascal, whose casting was probably the least surprising, given all the rumors that were floating around the internet. And still, his casting has managed to make the most noise. And this noise has a lot to do with another Marvel/F4 alum, Jessica Alba.
Jessica Alba Gets Dragged Into The Latest Fantastic Four Casting Debate
Jessica Alba played Sue Storm, aka Invisible Woman, in the first Fantastic Four film, which came out in 2005. The cast for the 2005 movie also saw Ioan Gruffudd play Reed Richard, Chris Evans as Johnny Storm, and Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm. But some fans, after some behind-the-scenes reports came out, were unhappy with how Jessica Alba was made to make adjustments to her looks to play the character.
Before yall continue on this lame ass revisionist history bullshit I would like to remind you that Jessica Alba was a Latina who was forced to dye her hair blonde, lighten her skin and wear blue contacts to resemble a white person. Defend that as you will. pic.twitter.com/DlguccSlZw
— It Was All a Dream, I Used to Read Wizard Magazine (@UpToTASK) February 15, 2024
Recently, the X user posted saying Jessica Alba, who is a Latina, was forced to dye her hair blonde and wear blue contacts to look more white. This led to a host of debates online, especially since some fans were already talking about Pedro Pascal, another Latino, who has been cast as Reed Richard in the recent reboot. The user thinks Marvel will again pull the same stunt with Pascal to make him resemble a White person.
But did Marvel really force the actress to look more white? Or was this just about an actor doing their part for a character they are playing? Although it is true that Alba had to face some troubles while filming, like when she was asked to cry pretty, that does not equate to her being whitewashed.
Was Jessica Alba Forced Into Whitewashing for Fantastic Four?
Jessica Alba once said she did not like playing Latina characters, as it felt like being stereotyped. Talking to USA Today (via Latin Trends), she said,
“For me, I never wanted to reinforce any stereotypes about Latin women, and that was why I’ve shied away from Latin characters I’ve been offered. Most of them reinforced the stigmas.”
Fans have also reinforced this, saying it was never about her being whitewashed for a role. Alba has played mostly English parts early in her career as she did not want to be boxed into certain roles. She even got into trouble for saying that she did not want to play Latinas on-screen. Replying to the X user’s claims of Alba being forced to look more white, others came to share their own opinion.
She wasn’t forced to do anything. The only person revising history is you
— Xerro (@AgentXerro) February 15, 2024
No one forced her to do anything? Jessica Alba has openly stated (and caught heat for saying) that she didn’t like taking “Latina roles” in her early career… let’s not revise that part of history either…
— Max MediaVerse (@MediaverseCU) February 15, 2024
Awwwww, a dye job and Contacts all so she can get paid millions to act in the role of an iconic character.
The poor baby.
— Author John A. Douglas (@BlkCrownAuthor) February 16, 2024
An actor playing a role had to go through hair and makeup to fit the character. Next thing you are going to tell me Michael Chiklis isn't really made of rock.
— 2AJames (@2AJames_) February 16, 2024
Jessica Alba IS a white person. I saw her DNA results on a talk show, she was like 80% European. And extremely disappointed to hear it. Also, not controversial to ask the actor to resemble the character they've been cast as. Was Chris Hemsworth "forced" to go on steroids?
— Big Boned (@BearZrrk) February 16, 2024
The character she made the choice to try and play? A whites woman. What do you mean by white wash? pic.twitter.com/k7VR14u71S
— Biznis1st (@biznis1st) February 15, 2024
You're playing a character you're supposed to look like the way you see in the comics. What's the big deal?
— Vegeekta (@Vegeekta) February 15, 2024
You can watch Jessica Alba and the team as the First Family of Marvel in Fantastic Four (2005) and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), available for streaming on Disney+.
The latest Fantastic Four reboot is set to release on July 25, 2025.
