Julia Garner, set to portray a female iteration of the Silver Surfer in Marvel’s upcoming film The Fantastic Four: First Steps, has spoken out about the initial fan criticism surrounding her role. Speaking to the BBC at the film’s London premiere, Garner dismissed concerns over the character’s gender, emphasizing her focus on performance rather than online discourse.
“I said, ‘I’m just going to still do my job,'” she stated, addressing complaints from some fans who argued that the Silver Surfer should remain male. She clarified that her character is Shalla-Bal, a distinct figure from the comics, adding, “Also, it’s Shalla-Bal, so it’s different.”
The Human Torch and Silver Surfer in The Fantastic Four: First Steps – Youtube, IGN
The casting announcement in early 2024 sparked debate, as the Silver Surfer has traditionally been depicted as Norrin Radd, a male humanoid alien from the planet Zenn-La. In the 2007 film Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, the character was embodied by Doug Jones and voiced by Laurence Fishburne, aligning with the comic book origins where Norrin Radd sacrifices his freedom to become Galactus’ herald in exchange for sparing his homeworld. Garner’s version shifts the focus to Shalla-Bal, Norrin Radd’s romantic partner in the source material, who has occasionally wielded similar powers in alternate storylines.
Shalla-Bal’s history in Marvel Comics dates back to 1968, when she first appeared in The Silver Surfer #1, created by Stan Lee and John Buscema.
A panel from Silver Surfer #1 (1968), Marvel Comics
As the Empress of Zenn-La and Norrin Radd’s lover, she represents a symbol of the peaceful, utopian life he left behind. Her early encounters with Norrin followed Zenn-Lavian customs, pairing her with him after his mother’s death to provide companionship. While Shalla-Bal is not the primary Silver Surfer in the main Marvel Universe (Earth-616), she has assumed the role in variant narratives. Notably, in the 1999 alternate-reality series Earth X by Jim Krueger and Alex Ross, Shalla-Bal becomes a Silver Surfer alongside Norrin Radd, sharing the Power Cosmic as a herald of Galactus.
This comic precedent allows for her to surf the cosmos on a silver board, imbued with immense energy manipulation abilities, though her stories often emphasize themes of loss, love, and redemption tied to Norrin Radd’s arc. In other depictions, such as Earth-9997, her role mirrors her Earth-616 counterpart as Norrin’s devoted partner, without fully adopting the Surfer mantle.
A panel from Silver Surfer #1 (1968), Marvel Comics
Marvel’s decision to feature Shalla-Bal as the Silver Surfer in The Fantastic Four: First Steps appears rooted in these comic variations, setting the film in an alternate universe within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
This choice avoids directly altering Norrin Radd’s established male identity, instead introducing a “different character into the role.” This fits in with Marvel’s ongoing “mantle strategy” where established heroes step aside for more diverse counterparts. Examples of this include Sam Wilson as Captain America and Riri Williams taking up Tony Stark’s armor tech in Ironheart. Director Matt Shakman and the creative team have not publicly detailed the rationale, but industry reports suggest it aligns with broader MCU multiverse explorations, allowing for diverse interpretations without overwriting core canon.
Critics of the move have pointed out that it’s still a gender swap of a classic character, arguing it diminishes the iconic male Silver Surfer introduced in 1966’s Fantastic Four #48. Many speculate that it stems from Marvel’s seemingly overwhelming desire to incorporate female-led elements into these movies. It should be noted that these attempts to feminize the Marvel Cinematic Universe have led to failure time and time again, with female led projects like The Marvels, Eternals, Ms. Marvel, Echo, Agatha All Along, and most recently Ironheart all failing spectacularly.
(L-R): Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers, and Teyonah Parris as Captain Monica Rambeau in Marvel Studios’ THE MARVELS. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 MARVEL.
Fan reactions have been understandably polarized. Initial announcements in April 2024 drew backlash, with social media users decrying the change as unnecessary and accusing Marvel of prioritizing “woke” agendas over tradition.
YouTube personality Valliant Renegade called the casting “asinine,” warning it could harm Garner’s career and contribute to Disney’s financial losses. Reddit discussions echoed this, describing Shalla-Bal as a “D-class” character used to sidestep casting the male version.
Silver Surfer from Fantastic Four First Steps (2025); Screenshot
Despite the controversy, Garner remains grateful for the opportunity, stating, “I’m grateful to be at this dance, to be completely honest with you.”
The film, starring Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm, with Ralph Ineson as Galactus, is slated for release on July 25, 2025.
What are your thoughts on Julia Garner as the Silver Surfer? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
UP NEXT: Tim Burton Confirms His Next Project is an Animated Movie, But the Script Hasn’t Been Written Yet
