Jessica Alba has spoken out about potentially returning as Susan Storm in theMCUafter seeing Chris Evans' Johnny Storm cameo inDeadpool & Wolverine. Jessica Alba and Chris Evans starred together in 2005’sFantastic Fourand its sequel as Susan and Johnny Storm, respectively. Of themanyDeadpool & Wolverinecameos, Chris Evans' Johnny Storm was easily one of the most memorable, thanks in no small part to his post-credits, expletive-laden diatribe. This scene did, however, come after Johnny Storm’s unceremonious death at the hands of Cassandra Nova, ostensibly drawing a line beneath the character’s future MCU prospects.
Jessica Alba’s Susan Storm did not feature in the movie, but said in an interview withColliderthat she would be open to reprising the role in the MCU after being asked about Evans' cameo, stating:
[Susan Storm]’s kind of a legend. It was like 20 years ago. That was a long time ago…I loved doing the Marvel movies, and I’m a big fan of Disney also. I will be watching. My kids are fans as well, so I would love to be part of that universe any time.
This isn’t the first time thatAlba has expressed an interest in reprising her role as Susan Storm, after previously stating that she would “jump at the chance” beforeDeadpool & Wolverinewas released, leading to speculation that she would comprise one of the many cameos in the movie. While this did not happen, andDeadpool & Wolverinelargely played up Evans' cameo for laughs, there is still plenty of scope for Alba and other stars from Fox’s Marvel movies to return inthe MCU timeline.
How Jessica Alba Could Appear In The MCU
Returning As Sue Storm Is Still Possible But Unlikely
Deadpool & Wolverinewas not the first movie to recast Marvel movie veterans within the MCU - though it certainly featured the most. After Disney acquired Fox in 2019, cameos from Fox’s X-Men began rolling out in earnest three years later in 2022’sDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where Patrick Stewart reprized the role of Charles Xavier. This was followed up in 2023, where Kelsey Grammer reappeared as Hank McCoy, AKA Beast, in thepost-credits scene forThe Marvels. Both took place in alternate universes to the MCU’s Earth-616.
Evan Peters tentatively reprized his role as Quicksilver in 2021’sWandaVision, though it ended up being a rug-pull as he was revealed to be portraying Ralph Bohner.
These cameos have opened the door for Jessica Alba to reprise her Susan Storm role in the future.This would most likely occur in one of the two upcoming Avengers movies, which will both presumably heavily feature multiversal shenanigans since they are the climactic movies of the Multiverse Saga. Given theMCU is about to debut its own Fantastic Four teaminThe Fantastic Four: First Steps, however, it is unlikely that Marvel will want to confuse things by featuring another Sue Storm variant, just as Vanessa Kirby’s depiction is supposed to be making an impression.
Chris Evans' Johnny Storm mentions Reed inDeadpool & Wolverine, but his absence along with the meta-context of dead franchises in the void suggests that the remaining Fantastic Four members are all deceased and never to return.
Alternatively, then,Jessica Alba’s comments that she “would love to be part of that universe any time” also opens the possibility of casting her in a new role entirely. Alba’s movie output has slowed down recently, suggesting that any role she could be cast in would possibly have to be minor, particularly as her desire to return as Sue Storm was likely said under the assumption it would be as a cameo. Either way, now thatDeadpool & Wolverinehas seemingly drawn a line beneath Fox’s Fantastic Four, this is likely the only way Alba can enter the MCU.
Deadpool & Wolverine
Cast
A follow-up to the highly successful Deadpool and Deadpool 2 films starring Ryan Reynolds as the Merc with a Mouth. The third film will be the first in the franchise to be developed under the Marvel Studios banner following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.
Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four follows four astronauts who gain extraordinary abilities after a space mission goes awry. Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm transform into superheroes tasked with combating Dr. Doom’s malevolent schemes, marking their debut in facing global threats with newly acquired powers.
