Fantastic Four Director Shoots Down a Popular Casting Theory From First Steps

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The Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman shoots down one long-running fan theory.

During a recent interview, Shakman responded to the question whether Natasha Lyonne was ever intended to portray Alicia Masters in the film with a simple, "No." When asked to elaborate on how the decision was made to have Lyonne portray Rachel Rozman, a local school teacher who becomes the main love interest of Ebon Moss-Bachrach's Ben Grimm, a.k.a the Thing, Shakman noted that the crux of the decision all hinged on the iconic hero's connection to the neighborhood and block he grew up on.

"I love Yancy Street," Shakman explained. "I love, you know, Ben's history. I love the idea of creating this place that felt surprisingly grounded and not technologically advanced compared to the rest of the city. There's something about Yancy Street that doesn't change... It's a way that [Ben] recharges, going back to his neighborhood. And that's true in the comics as well. And so I love the idea that he meets somebody special down there, who he creates a bond with. And, you know, you see it in the film, in terms of his shyness about it, because he is this incredible character who is so hard and so rough on the outside butso soft on the inside... And so it was a way to help tell that story of what it's like for him personally and the cost of that."

First seen all the way back in 1962's Fantastic Four #8 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Alicia Masters is a world-renowned blind sculpture and the adoptive daughter of one Phillip Masters, better known as the villainous Puppet Master. When one of Phillip's schemes killed Alicia's father and blinded the girl at a young age, the villain swore to care for her as his own and do anything he could to protect and heal her. Though he could not do the latter, the Puppet Master remained fiercely loyal to and protective of his daughter, even after she met and fell in love with one of his greatest enemies. In the years since her debut, Alicia has become one of the most prominent figures in the lives of the Fantastic Four, not to mention a member of Marvel's First Family for herself following her marriage to Ben.

What's Next for The Fantastic Four: First Steps?

Within barely two weeks of its widespread debut in theaters on July 25, The Fantastic Four: First Steps has nearly doubled its $200 million production budget, all while continuing to impress critics and audiences alike. As of the time of writing, The Fantastic Four: First Steps still holds an 86% "Fresh" rating via review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, as averaged across 372 critical reviews, while its "Popcornmeter" score stands at an even higher 91% as averaged across more than ten thousand user-submitted reviews. While fans still have plenty of time to see all the high-flying action on the silver screen, those looking to enjoy The Fantastic Four: First Steps from the comfort of their own homes will likely have to wait until late October or early November before the film makes its way to Disney+.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps is in theaters now.