Julia Garner recently made waves with a comment about her upcoming role in Marvel’s ‘Fantastic Four.’
While speaking with ET, Garner revealed that she plays a ‘small part’ in the movie. “Well, I can’t really talk much about it, but the Fantastic Four are fantastic,” she said about the film. “They are phenomenal in this film, and I’m very excited for people to see them. They’re also some of the kindest people I’ve ever worked with. So, they’re wonderful. A fun cast, a really great fun director, so I felt very lucky to have a tiny, little, small part.”
Garner’s casting in the MCU was officially announced in April 2024, and it sparked some controversy at the time. Fans believed she would be playing a gender-swapped version of Norrin Radd, the original Silver Surfer. Marvel later clarified that Garner would portray Shalla-Bal, a completely different character from the comics.
Shalla-Bal was introduced in ‘Silver Surfer #1’ in 1968, and she is the Empress of Zenn-La and Norrin Radd’s first love. She gained cosmic powers to save her planet in the comics after Galactus’ attack and served as a herald of Galactus alongside Norrin.
Garner said she was excited to join the MCU despite the initial backlash. Speaking with ComicBook, she called it ‘a big universe’ and shared her gratitude for being a part of it. She also praised the cast and director Matt Shakman, calling them ‘phenomenal’ and ‘wonderful.’
The film’s plot is still a mystery, though rumors suggest it could take place in an alternate universe. Garner’s role as Shalla-Bal will likely tie into the movie’s cosmic storyline. However, her recent comment about having a small role raises questions about how much screen time the character will get.
Garner is also starring in ‘Wolf Man,‘ a monster movie directed by Christopher Abbot. The film hits theaters on January 17.
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ is set to be released on July 25, 2025, in IMAX.
