Summary
- The upcoming MCU film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, will introduce a new, modern version of the characters.
- Actor Joseph Quinn, who plays Johnny Storm, hints that his portrayal will be less flirtatious and more self-aware.
- Fans can expect Johnny to retain his humorous nature, loyalty, bravery, and emotional growth in the movie.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is one of the movies from Marvel Studios this year. Its cast members have been promoting the project and one of them reveals they will portray a different version of their characters in the film.
Kevin Feige announced The Fantastic Four: First Steps in July 2019. After six years, the movie directed by Matt Shakman will soon see the light of day. First Steps stars Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm / Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm / Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm / The Thing. One of them shared a new detail about their character, hinting that fans would see a new version of them.
‘There Were Tones Of [Spoiler] In There’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps Star Hints Their Character Includes Their Dark Side
One of The Fantastic Four leads shared a new detail about their character in the upcoming MCU film.
Pascal, Kirby, Quinn, Moss-Bachrach and Shakman recently reunited for an interview with Entertainment Weekly. The stars spoke about their roles in the film and shared more details about their character. Quinn said fans would see a different version of Johnny in the upcoming MCU movie. The character is confident and "funny," according to Quinn. He added that he spoke with the Marvel Studios President about his take on the character because he wanted it to be different from how it was previously portrayed. They consider what's culturally accepted in this modern era and decide to go for it. Quinn said:
He was branded as this womanizing, devil-may-care guy, but is that sexy these days? I don't think so. This version of Johnny is less callous with other people's feelings, and hopefully there's a self-awareness about what's driving that attention-seeking behavior.
Hopefully They Don't Go Too Far In Changing Johnny Storm's Signature Characteristics
Chris Evans previously played Johnny in Fantastic Four (2005) and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007). The Marvel star, who is popularly known for portraying Captain America in multiple MCU films, surprisingly reprised his Fantastic Four character in Deadpool & Wolverine (2024). Fans loved Evans' performance in Fantastic Four because he captured Johnny's cocky and thrill-seeking nature. Several said his casting was perfect and his portrayal was comic-accurate. Reviewers also considered him the most entertaining part of the film. It appears that the new film focuses on Johnny's intelligence. The director added that the character was "really smart." It just made sense that he was part of the space mission with the Fantastic Four to study cosmic radiation and explore the uncharted regions of space. Shakman points out that Johnny is among the "most heroic" in the team but usually undercuts his heroism through humor. "He's Sue's brother, which means they are cut from similar cloth," the filmmaker added.
Quinn's statement about his take on Johnny Storm in The First Family: First Steps suggests that he will be portraying a version that's modern and relatable to today's cultural climate. It doesn't necessarily mean that he will change the character, but they might tone down Johnny's dated traits like being flirtatious, reckless, and hot-headed. He is often portrayed as a ladies' man, flirting with multiple women, even during missions. Johnny knows he is good-looking and charming, and he owns it. He can also be impulsive and a show-off.
It's fine to reduce some of Johnny's negative traits, but hopefully, they will retain his humorous nature. However, his humor often comes from his overconfidence, and he is sometimes clueless about it, which only makes it even more funny. Johnny is fiercely loyal to his family, brave amid threats, and capable of growth and emotional maturity. The film could focus on these elements, and that's fine, so long as they keep Johnny's humor because fans love it.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on July 25, 2025.
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Source: Entertainment Weekly