Marvel’s Silver Surfer Star Was as Confused by Her Fantastic Four Casting as Fans

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Julia Garner openly shared that she, like many fans, were taken aback regarding her portrayal of Silver Surfer in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”. Normally, the character of Silver Surfer is associated with Norrin Radd, who has led his own comics and made appearances in titles such as “Fantastic Four” and “Avengers”. Notably, he even had a significant role in the 2007 film “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer”. However, Garner will be bringing Shalla-Bal, the female version of Silver Surfer, to life in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”. She simply needed to accept the fact that the Silver Surfer is traditionally a male character.

In a chat with Entertainment Weekly, Julia Garner discussed her roles in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ and the Silver Surfer. When asked whether she knew about being cast as Silver Surfer before meeting with director Matt Shakman, or if it was a surprise, she shared her thoughts on the matter.

She mentioned that she had met Matt, a great guy, at a restaurant in Burbank, though the exact location escapes her. The meeting was about the Fantastic Four project. However, she got puzzled when she questioned if Silver Surfer wasn’t a male character. She chuckled and said, “Well, I’ll play any role.” Being a big fan of Matt Shakman, she felt it was important to meet him because he is an intelligent director with impressive work. Later, he clarified that the character in question was actually Shalla-Bal.

Later on, Garner expressed her doubts about whether she had secured the casting role after the meeting seemed to veer off in various directions. She mentioned, “He didn’t share much about the film, but we conversed a lot about the 1960s. Our discussion jumped from one topic to another, and I felt unsure if I was even going to get the part since our conversation was so scattered. I remember thinking, ‘How can he possibly hire me for this job.’ It was as if we were discussing communism, brutalist architecture, and other subjects. And then they told me, ‘You got it.’ I was taken aback, saying, ‘Really?’ So, I believe we connected, but you never know, essentially, is what I mean to say.

Last week saw the unveiling of the official trailer for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” providing a glimpse of Jennifer Garner as Silver Surfer. In the upcoming storyline, Shalla-Bal arrives on Earth with a dire warning – Galactus has targeted the planet for destruction. Even Mister Fantastic (played by Pedro Pascal), who is known for having solutions to most problems, finds himself at a loss when he can’t find a way to prevent the Destroyer of Worlds from carrying out his plan.

The character Garner hinted that the Silver Surfer’s loyalty to Galactus would be a recurring theme throughout the film, raising questions about whether she is truly on Galactus’ side, and whether she can be considered a hero or a villain. These are mysteries that the Fantastic Four will unravel.

Garner suggested that the Silver Surfer’s commitment to Galactus would be a persistent thread in the film, leaving us wondering if she is allied with Galactus or if she has a heroic or villainous nature. The Fantastic Four will delve into these enigmas.

Garner mentioned, “This role is intriguing – I must tread carefully to avoid attracting attention from Marvel. It’s said that my character is shrouded in a mystery, with an unclear allegiance between good and evil. She serves Galactus but her true intentions remain uncertain – does she support her master or merely follow orders? There’s a sense of enigma surrounding her, which will be gradually revealed as the audience watches the story unfold.

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2025-04-24 16:39