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Julia Garner is brushing off online backlash and standing firm in her role as Shalla-Bal, the female version of the Silver Surfer, in Marvel’s upcoming reboot The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Speaking to the BBC at the film’s London premiere, Garner addressed the controversy surrounding her casting and made it clear she’s focused on the work—not the noise.
“I said, ‘I’m just going to still do my job,’” Garner stated when asked about fans who were critical of a woman taking on the traditionally male role. “Also, it’s Shalla-Bal, so it’s different,” she added, referencing the Marvel Comics character who first appeared in The Silver Surfer #1 in 1968 as a counterpart to Norrin Radd.
Garner, known for her roles in Ozark and more recently The Wolf Man, emphasized that she’s portraying a unique iteration of the Silver Surfer—not simply replacing a male character. Her character, Shalla-Bal, is deeply rooted in Marvel lore and has long-standing ties to Galactus, the cosmic entity she now serves in the film.
Despite initial skepticism from some corners of the internet, reaction to Garner’s portrayal turned overwhelmingly positive after the release of the first trailer. Garner said she was encouraged by the growing support. “I was just happy that people are resonating with it, just like any other project,” she said. “I’m grateful to be at this dance, to be completely honest with you.”
Fantastic Four: First Steps features a star-studded cast including Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm (Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm (Human Torch), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm (The Thing). Ralph Ineson portrays the cosmic villain Galactus, with Paul Walter Hauser, Natasha Lyonne, and John Malkovich also appearing in undisclosed roles.
The Silver Surfer was previously brought to life in 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, where the character was physically portrayed by Doug Jones and voiced by Laurence Fishburne. This time, Marvel is exploring a fresh narrative direction, introducing Shalla-Bal as part of its multiverse storytelling approach.
Garner’s calm, confident stance reflects a broader shift in superhero storytelling, where character reinventions are embraced to reflect new themes and audiences. Whether audiences are ready or not, Julia Garner is riding the cosmic wave—and she’s not looking back.
