Wait. Stop. If you went into The Fantastic Four: First Steps expecting Natasha Lyonne to show up with a cane and a sculpting wheel as Alicia Masters, you weren’t alone. The internet spent months convinced she was playing Ben Grimm’s iconic blind love interest. Instead, we got Rachel Rozman.
A "tribute" character.
It felt weirdly brief, right? One minute she’s a schoolteacher on Yancy Street flirting with a rock monster, and the next, she’s basically a cameo in the third act. But the Natasha Lyonne Fantastic Four tribute isn’t just some throwaway role. It’s actually a deeply personal nod to the "King of Comics" himself, Jack Kirby. If you know the history, her presence changes the entire vibe of the movie.
Who is Rachel Rozman? (And no, she’s not in the comics)
Let’s get the facts straight: Rachel Rozman is an original creation for the MCU.
She doesn’t exist in the 616 or any other comic universe. In the film, she’s a teacher in the retro-futuristic New York of Earth-828. She meets Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ben Grimm while he’s hanging out with her students. It’s a cute, crunchy scene. They have this instant, "old soul" rapport that only Lyonne and Moss-Bachrach could pull off.
But why the name change? Why not just use Alicia Masters?
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The answer lies in the name "Rozman." Jack Kirby, the man who co-created the Fantastic Four and literally drew the blueprint for the Marvel Universe, was married to Rosalind Goldstein. Everyone called her Roz.
By naming Lyonne’s character Rachel Rozman, Marvel Studios turned her into a walking, talking tribute to Roz Kirby. Ben Grimm was always Jack’s self-insert character—a tough Jewish kid from the Lower East Side who just wanted to be loved despite his rough exterior. Having Ben fall for a woman named "Roz" is a meta-romance sixty years in the making.
The Controversy: Why was her role so short?
Honestly, it’s kinda frustrating. You don’t hire an Emmy-nominee like Natasha Lyonne just to have her stand in the background while Galactus tries to eat the moon.
Rumors have been swirling since the film’s release in July 2025 that her role was significantly gutted. Industry insiders like John Rocha have suggested that Rachel was originally written as a rabbi. The idea was to explore Ben Grimm’s Jewish heritage more deeply—a core part of his identity that often gets ignored in movies.
So, what happened?
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Some claim Disney got "cold feet" regarding religious themes given the global political climate. Others, including director Matt Shakman, have been more diplomatic, saying things simply had to be "shaped" for the final cut. Whatever the reason, the result is a character that feels like a ghost of a much bigger story.
Why the Natasha Lyonne Fantastic Four tribute actually works
Despite the limited screen time, Lyonne’s performance anchors the movie’s humanity.
Think about it. The rest of the team is busy dealing with Shalla-Bal, cosmic rays, and the end of the world. They’re "celebrities" in their ivory tower. Ben, however, finds solace in a local synagogue on Yancy Street. He finds it with Rachel.
- The Connection: Lyonne and Moss-Bachrach have been friends for 25 years in real life. You can feel that.
- The Tone: She brings a "New York" energy that matches the 1960s aesthetic perfectly.
- The Symbolism: She represents the "normal" life Ben is terrified he’s lost forever.
It's a "kinky" flirtation—Lyonne’s words, not mine—that gives the Thing a heartbeat. When Ben visits her in the final act as the world is ending, it’s not about plot. It’s about the fact that even a man made of orange rocks needs someone to look at him like he’s human.
The "Two Nickels" Fact
Here is a wild bit of trivia: This is the second time Natasha Lyonne has played a character connected to a blind Marvel figure.
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Back in 2004, she was in Blade: Trinity (yeah, the one with the vampire dogs). She played Sommerfield, a blind scientist. Fans thought this was a "locked" hint that she would be Alicia Masters in First Steps. Instead, Marvel went the "tribute" route.
It’s a subversion of expectations that left some fans cold, but for the Kirby die-hards, it was the ultimate Easter egg.
What’s next for Rachel Rozman?
The big question is whether we’ll see her again in Avengers: Doomsday or the inevitable Fantastic Four sequel. Since the team is seemingly heading to the main MCU Earth (616), the fate of Earth-828’s Rachel Rozman is up in the air.
Most likely? She was a one-and-done tribute. A beautiful, raspy-voiced nod to the woman who supported the man who built Marvel.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to appreciate the Natasha Lyonne Fantastic Four tribute even more, do these three things:
- Read "The Thing: Night Falls on Yancy Street": It captures the exact vibe of the neighborhood where Rachel and Ben met.
- Look up Jack and Roz Kirby’s photos: You’ll see exactly what the casting directors were aiming for with Lyonne’s look and attitude.
- Watch the credits closely: The film is dedicated to the legends, and Rachel’s character is the living embodiment of that "thank you."
The movie might be about cosmic gods and stretching limbs, but the heart is tucked away in a schoolroom on Yancy Street with a woman who isn't afraid of a monster. That's the real magic of the FF.