Los Angeles: Julia Garner has addressed the fan buzz surrounding her unexpected casting as the Silver Surfer in Marvel Studios’ upcoming film The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The Emmy-winning actor, known for her powerhouse performances in Ozark and Inventing Anna, will portray Shalla-Bal—a lesser-known but comic-accurate female version of the iconic Silver Surfer.
While the original Silver Surfer, Norrin Radd, is a male character introduced in Marvel Comics in the 1960s, Garner’s casting as Shalla-Bal has stirred curiosity and confusion among fans. The character has appeared in comic canon, but never before on screen, making her debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe a bold narrative choice.
In a recent interview, Garner revealed her own initial confusion upon being approached for the role. As reported by Deadline, she recalled her meeting with director Matt Shakman:
“I met up with director Matt Shakman, who’s lovely”, Garner said. “We met up at some restaurant in Burbank or something, I don’t even remember, but I knew it was for the Fantastic Four”.
She candidly admitted her reaction upon hearing the character’s name:
“And then I was confused because I was like, ‘Wait, isn’t the Silver Surfer a man?’ I was just like, ‘Okay, well, I’ll play anything.’ I was a very big fan of Matt’s, so there was already, in my mind, like, ‘I should probably meet with Matt Shakman because he’s a very smart director and I love his work’. And then he explained to me that it’s Shalla-Bal and that whole thing”.
Who is Shalla-Bal?
In Marvel lore, Shalla-Bal is the former lover of Norrin Radd from the planet Zenn-La. While she is not traditionally the Silver Surfer, alternate timelines and story arcs have seen her take on the cosmic mantle. Marvel Studios’ decision to explore this variation aligns with the MCU’s growing embrace of multiversal storytelling and alternate character arcs.
The Legacy of the Silver Surfer
Originally created by Jack Kirby and first appearing in Fantastic Four #48 (1966), the Silver Surfer—Norrin Radd—is a Zenn-Lavian who becomes the herald of Galactus to save his home planet. Known for his philosophical depth and cosmic adventures, the Silver Surfer has been a fan-favorite for decades. The character was last seen on screen in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), portrayed physically by Doug Jones and voiced by Laurence Fishburne.
About The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Directed by Matt Shakman, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set to officially introduce Marvel’s First Family to the MCU. The screenplay is a collaborative effort by Jeff Kaplan, Ian Springer, Josh Friedman, Cameron Squires, Eric Pearson, and Peter Cameron.
The film stars Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as the Fantastic Four, joined by Ralph Ineson, Julia Garner, Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Niles in pivotal roles.
Garner’s casting signals Marvel’s willingness to reimagine legacy characters while still staying rooted in established comic lore. With Shalla-Bal making her live-action debut, fans are eager to see how this iteration of the Silver Surfer fits into the MCU’s expanding cosmic narrative.
