Julia Garner Addresses Fan Misconception About Her Character’s Gender in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”
According to cinemadrame News Agency, Julia Garner has responded to criticism regarding the “gender change” of the Silver Surfer character in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” Last April, it was announced that the 31-year-old Ozark actress would be joining the reboot.
Initially, it was speculated that the Silver Surfer’s gender had been changed for Garner, but it was later confirmed that she would appear as Shalla-Bal, the immortal queen of Zenn-La and the lover of the Silver Surfer (Norrin Radd).
The Inventing Anna actress addressed the fan criticism about the “gender change” of the Silver Surfer character during an interview on the blue carpet at a film premiere in London with the BBC. Garner responded, “I was like, ‘I’m just doing my job.’ And besides, it’s Shalla-Bal, so it’s different.”
Garner added about the shift in fan perception after the trailer’s release: “I was happy people connected with it, just like any other project. Honestly, I was grateful for the opportunity to be on that stage.”
She had previously stated that she was confused by the offer of the role: “At first, I was confused. I was like, ‘Wait a minute, wasn’t the Silver Surfer a guy?’ Then I thought, ‘Be a guy, I’ll play any role.'” She then explained that Matt Shakman, the film’s director, told her that the character was actually Shalla-Bal and not the Silver Surfer.
Shalla-Bal was first introduced in Marvel’s first Silver Surfer series in August 1968 and has never appeared in a live-action film until now. The Silver Surfer character was first introduced in Fantastic Four #48 in 1966. He is a humanoid with metallic skin who can travel through space with the help of a surfboard-like device. The Silver Surfer has appeared in several films and series, including “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” played by Doug Jones and voiced by Laurence Fishburne.
The four main Fantastic Four characters will enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) for the first time with “First Steps.” Marvel Studios and Disney reacquired the rights to adapt the Fantastic Four in 2019 after merging with Fox.
The story of “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is set in a retro-futuristic 1960s world where the Fantastic Four are astronauts preparing for a space journey. In this film, Pedro Pascal will play Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards), Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm (Invisible Woman), Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm (The Thing), Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal, Paul Walter Hauser as The Mole Man, and The Green Knight will play Galactus.
“The Fantastic Four” will be released on July 25, 2025.
