The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ marks Julia Garner’s first appearance as female Silver Surfer, Shalla-Bal

In Marvel’s 2025 remake, Julia Garner portrays Shalla-Bal, the first female Silver Surfer.

Set for release on 25 July 2025, Marvel Studios has verified Julia Garner will play the Silver Surfer in The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

With Garner as Shalla-Bal, a lesser-known Marvel character now reinterpreted in a pivotal position, this casting is the first time a woman plays the part.

Shalla-Bal says, “Your planet has been marked for death,” in the first trailer of the movie, which was released with the news. Traditionally seen as Norrin Radd, the Silver Surfer’s new appearance complements Marvel’s effort to diversify its character representations, hence adding a new story angle to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Matt Shakman’s directorial film takes place in a retro-styled Manhattan from the 1960s. It brings Marvel’s First Family into the MCU for the first time. Pedro Pascal plays Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby plays Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn plays Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach plays Ben Grimm. The cosmic foe Galactus is voiced by Ralph Ineson.

Although the reboot differs from other Marvel movies, it links indirectly to future projects such Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, both anticipated in 2027. Early trailer conjecture also points to a plot including Sue Storm’s pregnancy, maybe paving the way for Franklin Richards’ arrival.