Summary
- Julia Garner has managed to take the Silver Surfer internet backlash in stride.
- It never made any sense in the first place, as she's playing a different Silver Surfer.
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps takes place in a separate universe, showcasing a '60s retro-futuristic world.
The internet can be a cutthroat place where fans voice displeasure about things that haven't even come to pass yet, as The Fantastic Four: First Steps star Julia Garner found out in 2024 when some people lost their minds about her casting as the Silver Surfer. Based on a recent interview, though, Garner has seemingly come to terms with the backlash.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps just might be the last attempt for Marvel's First Family to make a genuine impression in Hollywood. The less said about Roger Corman's never-released 1994 film, the better, but it's not as if any of the Fantastic Four's released movies have wowed audiences either. Both 2005's Fantastic Four and 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer were moderately successful, but 20th Century Fox deemed the franchise surplus to requirements and shelved both a third Fantastic Four film and a Silver Surfer spin-off just before the Marvel Cinematic Universe came along and kicked the superhero genre into high gear. By the time 20th Century Fox got around to revamping the franchise, it was 2015 and Josh Trank's Fantastic Four became one of the most reviled superhero films ever made as it tanked at the box office and was brutalized by both critics and audiences. When Disney bought 20th Century Fox in 2019, Marvel Studios finally got the rights to the Richards family and spent a good long while trying to bring them to the big screen in the MCU. The highly anticipated First Steps is the result.
‘Wait, Isn’t The Silver Surfer A Man?' Julia Garner Admits She Was Initially Confused With Fantastic Four Casting
Julia Garner shares her initial reaction when she was cast as the Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: First Steps.
During The Fantastic Four: First Step's red carpet premiere in London, England earlier this week, Julia Garner was interviewed by the BBC. When asked about a certain subset of FF fans taking umbrage with her being cast as the Silver Surfer, the actress had this to say: "Oh, well, you know. I was like, 'I'm just gonna still do my job.' It's Shalla-Bal, so it's different." When the film's first trailer was revealed and numerous fans took to her portrayal positively, Garner was unsurprisingly quite pleased. "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."
Julia Garner Managed To Take The Silver Surfer Internet Backlash In Stride
It Never Made Any Sense In The First Place
People taking the time to complain about Julia Garner playing the Silver Surfer in The Fantastic Four: First Steps never held water anyway. After all, it's not like Garner is playing a gender-swapped version of Norrin Radd or anything like that. No, Garner is playing Shalla-Bal, Empress of Zenn-La and traditional love interest of Norrin Radd. In fact, an alternate universe Shalla-Bal debuted as the Silver Surfer in 2000's Earth X #12 years before any version of the Fantastic Four even hit the big screen.
It's not like The Fantastic Four: First Steps is even taking place in the MCU's mainline universe, as Marvel Studios has made it abundantly clear that the film takes place in a '60s-inspired retro-futuristic world separate from the majority of what fans have seen in the MCU. Meaning, somewhere down the line, Norrin Radd could presumably appear as the version of the Silver Surfer that most people know and love. Who could've possibly seen hot take culture having a negative impact like this?
All in all, Garner seems to be taking the heat in stride. If The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the hit Marvel is hoping it to be, she'll be laughing all the way to the bank.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set to be released in theaters on July 25.
- Release Date
- July 25, 2025
- Runtime
- 115 minutes
- Director
- Matt Shakman
Cast
-
Pedro PascalReed Richards / Mister Fantastic -
Vanessa KirbySue Storm / Invisible Woman
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Jeff Kaplan, Josh Friedman, Ian Springer, Eric Pearson, Kat Wood, Jack Kirby, Stan Lee
- Producers
- Kevin Feige
- Franchise(s)
- Marvel Cinematic Universe
Source: BBC/Instagram