Julia Garner, who will play a female version of Silver Surfer in Marvel’s upcoming movie “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” has addressed the initial criticism from fans about her role. During an interview with BBC at the film’s London premiere, she brushed off concerns about the character being female and instead focused on delivering a strong performance rather than engaging in online discussions.
She explained, “Regarding the comments I’ve received, I plan to continue performing my role.” This was in response to some fans who suggested that the Silver Surfer should stay male. She emphasized that her character is Shalla-Bal, a unique entity from the comics, and added, “Moreover, she is Shalla-Bal, making it a different portrayal.
In early 2024, a casting announcement ignited discussions because the Silver Surfer is typically portrayed as Norrin Radd, a male alien humanoid from Zenn-La. However, this new interpretation centers around Shalla-Bal, Norrin Radd’s romantic partner in the original stories who sometimes possesses similar powers in alternate narratives. In the 2007 film “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” Doug Jones played the character and Laurence Fishburne provided the voice, reflecting Norrin Radd’s transformation into Galactus’ herald as depicted in comic books, where he sacrifices his freedom for sparing his homeworld.
Shalla-Bal’s journey in the Marvel universe began as early as 1968, debuting in the very first issue of The Silver Surfer. This iconic character was brought to life by the creative minds of Stan Lee and John Buscema.
In her role as the Empress of Zenn-La and lover to Norrin Radd, she embodies the tranquil, utopian existence he once abandoned. According to Zenn-Lavian traditions, their early meetings transpired following the death of his mother, which led to a partnership aimed at offering companionship. Although Shalla-Bal is not the main Silver Surfer in Marvel’s primary universe (Earth-616), she has taken on that role in alternative stories. In particular, in the 1999 alternate reality series Earth X by Jim Krueger and Alex Ross, Shalla-Bal assumes the mantle of a Silver Surfer alongside Norrin Radd, both wielding the Power Cosmic as heralds of Galactus.
This comic precedent enables her to traverse the universe on a shimmering board, powered by incredible energy control skills. Her tales frequently focus on motifs of loss, love, and redemption that align with the journey of Norrin Radd. In other portrayals, like Earth-9997, she takes on a role similar to her Earth-616 counterpart as a loyal companion to Norrin Radd, but without assuming the title of the Surfer herself.
In my critical analysis of Marvel’s upcoming film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, it seems that their choice to portray Shalla-Bal as the Silver Surfer is grounded in these comic book transformations. This move establishes the movie in an alternate universe within the expansive Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
In this scenario, rather than changing Norrin Radd’s established male character, they are introducing a new character to embody his role. This approach mirrors Marvel’s strategy of passing the mantle from original heroes to more diverse successors, like Sam Wilson as Captain America and Riri Williams in Ironheart. The creators haven’t shared their reasons yet, but it seems to be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s broader exploration of multiple universes, allowing for various interpretations while preserving essential story elements.
Critics are expressing concerns that the change to a female character for Silver Surfer is just a gender swap of the original male character from 1966’s Fantastic Four #48, claiming it lessens the impact of the iconic male Silver Surfer. Some suggest this decision could be due to Marvel’s apparent focus on introducing more female-centric aspects in their films. However, it’s important to mention that previous attempts to make the Marvel Cinematic Universe more feminine by launching female-led projects such as The Marvels, Eternals, Ms. Marvel, Echo, Agatha All Along, Ironheart have not been successful so far.
The responses from fans have shown a clear divide of opinions. When the announcement was made in April 2024, it faced criticism, with people on social media arguing that this change was unwarranted and accusing Marvel of focusing on modern social issues at the expense of traditional values.
YouTube influencer Valliant Renegade criticized the casting decision as foolish, expressing concern that it could potentially damage Garner’s career and lead to financial setbacks for Disney. Similar sentiments were expressed on Reddit, where Shalla-Bal was referred to as a minor character, used as an alternative to casting the male version instead of investing in a more significant role.
Even though there’s been some debate, Garner continues to express gratitude for the chance, saying plainly, “I’m truly thankful to be a part of this event.
The movie featuring 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 portraying Galactus, is set to hit theaters on July 25, 2025.
Read More
- Silver Rate Forecast
- Grimguard Tactics tier list – Ranking the main classes
- USD CNY PREDICTION
- Black Myth: Wukong minimum & recommended system requirements for PC
- Former SNL Star Reveals Surprising Comeback After 24 Years
- 10 Most Anticipated Anime of 2025
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Hero Tale best builds – One for melee, one for ranged characters
- Box Office: ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ Stomping to $127M U.S. Bow, North of $250M Million Globally
- “Golden” Moment: How ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Created the Year’s Catchiest Soundtrack
2025-07-14 15:59