Summary:
- According to multiple sources, Marvel Studios has cast rising star Julia Garner as the Silver Surfer in the upcoming Fantastic Four movie.
- Julia Garner will portray Shalla-Bal, a female version of Silver Surfer in Marvel Comics, who’s also Norrin Radd’s love interest.
- The Silver Surfer’s presence in The Fantastic Four could also pave a way for Galactus to be involved in the movie.
Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four” is shaping up to be a star-studded affair, with the casting lineup now boasting one of Hollywood’s fastest-rising talents for the role of the Silver Surfer. Deadline and multiple other sources report that Julia Garner, the Emmy-winning prodigy known for her standout roles in “Ozark” and “Inventing Anna,” has been tapped to bring the iconic character to life in the upcoming blockbuster.
Joining Garner in the cosmic adventure are Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm (Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm (the Human Torch), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm (the Thing). Directed by “WandaVision’s” Matt Shakman, filming is slated to kick off this summer, with a release date set for July 25, 2025.
While the specifics of the plot remain under wraps, insider buzz suggests Garner will portray Shalla-Bal, the female version of Silver Surfer from the comics. Marvel Studios had no comment so far addressing this rumor.
In the pages of Marvel Comics, Shalla-Bal is Norrin Radd (aka the original Silver Surfer)’s main squeeze. Later on, she eventually became the Keeper of the Great Truth herself to enforce her planet’s cultural imperatives across the stars, thus bringing her into conflicts with Norrin and the other Avengers.
Interestingly, in the alternate Earth-9997, Shalla-Bal herself assumes the mantle of the Silver Surfer, thanks to this universe’s Reed Richard taking on the mantle of Galactus.
This addition hints at the potential involvement of the Devourer of Worlds himself, the Surfer’s cosmic overlord, in the upcoming Fantastic Four storyline. Simply put, you cannot speak about the Silver Surfer without mentioning Galactus, and vice versa.
Marvel fans have been on their feet for a while to see who will portray the Silver Surfer, a powerful entity with an equally complicated backstory, in the MCU. There were ongoing rumors about Marvel Studios deciding to go with a female version of the character, causing mixed reactions in the community.
Julia Garner‘s ascent in Hollywood has been nothing short of meteoric, with her portrayal of Ruth in “Ozark” earning her critical acclaim and multiple Emmy wins. Since wrapping up the Netflix series, Garner has expanded her filmography, appearing in “The Royal Hotel,” gearing up for the “Wolfman” reboot with Blumhouse and Universal, and starring in the Paramount thriller “Apartment 7A.
If Garner decides to join “The Fantastic Four,” it will be a great chance for the talented actress to further introduce herself to a more casual type of audience, and her versatile acting chops make her a perfect candidate to portray a complex hero like the Silver Surfer.
