Vanessa Kirby Reveals ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Was Filmed 100% With a Real Baby

The newest Fantastic Four movie, First Steps, is winning over both fans and critics, and it’s not just because of its action and big-name cast. One of the most surprising things about the film is the way it features a real baby at the center of its emotional story.

Vanessa Kirby, who plays Sue Storm, revealed that the team used a real infant for the entire shoot, something that’s pretty rare in big superhero movies today.

In an interview with Variety, Kirby shared how important it was to keep that emotional connection as real as possible, and the baby, named Ada, made a huge difference on set. “100% of the film was shot with a real baby,” she said. “Our lead baby, Ada, a little girl, was just heaven. We had lots of other babies who were acting with us and helping us. We got really attached to them, and they were so part of our journey.”

The film introduces Franklin Richards, Sue and Reed’s son, who is an important figure in the comics. While much of the movie leans on heavy CGI, especially in scenes involving Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer and Ralph Ineson’s Galactus, the baby was real throughout. That decision helped ground the story and made the emotional stakes feel even stronger.

Vanessa Kirby said shooting those scenes with the baby wasn’t always easy, but it was powerful.

She mentioned that one of Sue’s big speeches was filmed during a cold winter night in London, and the babies cried during the exact same line every time. “I thought, ‘Am I delivering something so bad that they’re crying at the same moment?’” she joked. “Babies are the most natural actors in the world.”

The story of Fantastic Four: First Steps follows Sue and Reed as they prepare for the birth of their son while also trying to stop Galactus from destroying Earth. Sue gives birth in space, in zero gravity, and the scene is one of the most intense in the film. Kirby explained how deeply personal that moment was to film. “It was so cool to see that a superhero was doing something so primal and so utterly human,” she said. “I was most excited for that bit.”

She also said the baby’s role was central to the film’s emotional core. “This baby really is at the heart of the story,” she added. “They’re not just protecting the world. It’s about what this new consciousness represents.” That’s especially clear in the final act, where Sue sacrifices herself to protect her son. But Franklin ends up using his mysterious powers to save her, bringing the story full circle.

Kirby, who’s pregnant in real life and also filming Avengers: Doomsday, said the role helped her connect to her own journey into motherhood. “It certainly taught me about motherhood, and my own motherhood journey. That can’t be a coincidence,” she said.

So while Fantastic Four: First Steps brings all the big battles and cosmic threats you’d expect from a Marvel movie, its most powerful scenes come from something much simpler, the connection between a mother and her child. And thanks to one tiny, real-life baby on set, that story feels more human than ever.

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