Final yr, we acquired affirmation that The Improbable 4: First Steps will introduce a feminine tackle Marvel Comics’ basic space-faring hero, the Silver Surfer – however not the model of the character followers are most aware of.
Emmy Award-winner Julia Garner (Ozark, Inventing Anna) will play the film’s Surfer, however not a gender-switched tackle Norrin Radd. Garner will truly tackle the position of Shalla-Bal.
Within the unique Marvel Comics continuity, Shalla-Bal was the Empress of the planet Zenn-La, and was the primary love of Norrin Radd. When Galactus got here to devour their planet, Radd volunteered to turn out to be his herald in trade for sparing Zenn-La. Later, when Franklin Richards took over as the brand new Galactus, he imbued Shalla with the identical cosmic powers and allowed her to function a twin herald alongside Radd.
We acquired a primary glimpse of Garner’s tackle the Surfer within the full trailer for First Steps, and we n0w have a fairly cool new take a look at the character through some Marvel Legends promo artwork.
New promo artwork for Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer in ‘THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS’ pic.twitter.com/CssHUXnUUg
— Cosmic Marvel (@cosmic_marvel) May 31, 2025
Garner not too long ago shared some new particulars on this new model of the character throughout an in-depth interview with EW.
The actress revealed that she was conscious of the character, however had no thought the Surfer was who Matt Shakman wished her to play when she met him about probably boarding the mission.
“We met up at some restaurant in Burbank or one thing, I do not even bear in mind, however I knew it was for the Improbable 4. After which I used to be confused as a result of I used to be like, ‘Wait, is not the Silver Surfer a person?’ I used to be identical to, ‘Okay, nicely, I will play something.’ [Laughs] I used to be a really huge fan of Matt’s, so there was already, in my thoughts, like, ‘I ought to in all probability meet with Matt Shakman as a result of he is a really good director and I like his work.’ After which he was explaining to me that it is truly Shalla-Bal and that entire factor.”
Doable (gentle) spoilers observe.
As for whether or not we’ll study Shalla’s origin on this film, Garner was cautious to not reveal an excessive amount of, nevertheless it does sound like she may simply find yourself having second ideas about her loyalty to the Eater of Worlds.
“I’ve to be so cryptic about all the pieces, in any other case I will have Marvel come after me. But it surely was described as there’s this thriller about her, and there is this sense of this ambiguous power occurring of whether or not she’s good or not. She is the herald of Galactus, so she works for Galactus, however you are undecided the place she stands. Does she stand along with her boss, or is she simply doing what she’s instructed? She has this mysterious power about her, and slowly that thriller will get solved with the viewers all through watching it.”
“All I can say is that she works for Galactus and that she’s mysterious, and the character will unfold extra in the direction of the top of the film. That is all I can say. I do know it is a very Marvel tease, but in addition it is like an actual tease. I have not seen the film myself!”
Rumor has it that Garner will solely seem because the Silver Surfer on this film, with Norrin Radd set to be launched within the 616 Universe down the road. Garner declined to verify or deny the opportunity of returning sooner or later (“we’ll see”), however does sound excited concerning the prospect of a spin-off.
“One hundred percent, I might love to do this. The Silver Surfer is such a cool character, and I really feel prefer it’s so uncommon to be offered with any type of thriller nowadays. So any form of power like that on display, I do know I wish to see that, so that might be superior if that occurred.”
Collectively in 1.90.
Marvel Studios’ #TheFantasticFour: First Steps arrives in IMAX July 25. #FilmedForIMAX pic.twitter.com/fmmj0YkhvO
— IMAX (@IMAX) April 17, 2025
Improbable 4: First Steps – Official Trailer
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©2025 Walt Disney Footage/ Marvel Studios#FantasticFour pic.twitter.com/sSEf7FLTMm
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The Improbable 4 reboot additionally stars Vanessa Kirby (Mission: Unimaginable – Lifeless Reckoning) as Sue Storm, aka the Invisible Girl, Joseph Quinn (Stranger Issues, A Quiet Place Day One) as Johnny Storm, aka The Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Punisher, The Bear) as Ben Grimm, aka the Factor.
Natasha Lyonne, Paul Walter Hauser and John Malkovich are additionally on board in undisclosed roles.
Kevin Feige not too long ago confirmed that the film will happen in an alternate universe, however we all know that Marvel’s First Household will seem in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, so we would not be stunned in the event that they discover their approach into the principle MCU timeline by the top of this film.
“Set towards the colourful backdrop of a Sixties-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ The Improbable 4: First Steps introduces Marvel’s First Household—Reed Richards/Mister Improbable (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm/Invisible Girl (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm/The Factor (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as they face their most daunting problem but.
Pressured to stability their roles as heroes with the power of their household bond, they need to defend Earth from a ravenous house god referred to as Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the whole planet and everybody on it weren’t unhealthy sufficient, it instantly will get very private.”
Matt Shakman directs The Improbable 4: First Steps, which is about to hit theaters on July 25, 2025.