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Joseph Quinn revealed some of the most helpful advice he got from his former castmate and fellow Marvel star Lupita Nyong’o before suiting up for The Fantastic Four: First Steps.
The 31-year-old Stranger Things star brings Johnny Storm (known to many as his heroic alter ego the Human Torch) to life in the new film, which premieres in theaters on Friday, July 25.
During a Monday, July 21 appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Quinn shared that he reached out to Nyong’o, whom he acted alongside in 2024’s A Quiet Place: Day One, for some tips. The Black Panther actress came back to him with “some very sage advice.”
JAY MAIDMENT/Courtesy of 20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios.
“She said, ‘You’ve got to go blonde.’ ” Quinn revealed. The star did indeed go blonde for the film.
He revealed to guest host Alan Cumming that his big hair transformation for the role spoke to his soul, saying, “I’m blonde on the inside. It’s funny, I never knew that I had just a little blonde boy inside me. And it felt like coming home.”
Quinn previously told PEOPLE that Nyong’o was “very helpful” and “encouraging” about him joining the franchise.
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“She said that I’m going to have a blast and to enjoy it,” he explained, adding, “She’s obviously part of that world and spoke about her experience with a lot of fondness, so it was encouraging.”
Nyogn’o confirmed to Extra in June 2024 that had brought Quinn up to date on “the Ten Commandments of Marvel” before he officially signed on. Speaking to PEOPLE, she revealed that some of the key rules include, “say nothing,” “steal something” and “take [behind-the-scenes] pictures.”
While speaking to PEOPLE, Quinn also addressed the fact that Johnny Storm has been played by industry heavy hitters Chris Evans or Michael B. Jordan, saying that he had “big boots to fill.”
“They’re both brilliant actors and did an amazing job with their interpretation,” he said. “So I think it’s a question of trying to find something … well, not different. It’s going to come from me, I guess.”
Despite his goal to differentiate his interpretation of the character, Quinn added that he had “definitely been inspired by their portrayals.”
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Evans most recently reprised the role of the Human Torch in 2024’s Deadpool & Wolverine, which introduced his version of the character to the MCU.
The actor, who famously went on to embody Captain America, described the chance to play the Fantastic Four hero again as “a dream come true,” adding that the character will “always have a special place in my heart.”
