*This article may contain minor spoilers for Fantastic Four: First Steps*.
Marvel’s latest cinematic spectacle, Fantastic Four: First Steps, is on the cusp of its grand debut and has already stirred up a storm of controversy before even hitting the silver screen.
A vocal minority has kicked up a fuss over a central character in the movie but the debate isn’t as black-and-white as it seems.
Devoted fans are buzzing with their own theories about the creative choices behind the scenes.
At the helm of this fresh instalment is director Matt Shakman, celebrated for his work on blockbuster series like Game of Thrones, It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, and Succession. Not to mention, he’s no stranger to Marvel, having directed the entire run of the acclaimed WandaVision series.
Audiences are set to witness a revamped Fantastic Four team, returning to the limelight after their last cinematic outing in 2007 under Fox’s banner. The iconic quartet will be portrayed by a stellar cast featuring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, reports the Mirror.
In a bold move, the film introduces Julia Garner as a female Silver Surfer, a decision that has sparked discontent in some quarters, leading to a reported backlash.
During a promotional event captured in a BBC News segment, a journalist put Garner in the hot seat, asking: “Your role received some backlash when it was first announced as a ‘gender swap’, followed by a very positive reaction with the trailer. How did you handle that initial reaction?”.
Garner replied: “Well, you know, the first one I was like I’m still just gonna do my job. And also it’s Shalla-Bal, so it’s different. And then you know, the second one I was just happy that people are resonating with it just like any other project so I’m just grateful to be at this dance to be honest.”
The actress garnered widespread acclaim for her thoughtful response, with supporters praising both her casting and her understanding of the source material and comics.
Who is Shalla-Bal?
Marvel’s character profile describes Shalla Bal as a member of the Zenn-Lavian species, an extraordinarily long-lived alien race that achieved near-perfection centuries ago by eliminating disease, poverty, and societal problems.
She becomes romantically involved with Norrin Radd, who serves as the original Silver Surfer in the comic books.
He transforms into the cosmic entity after volunteering to serve as Galactus’ herald, sacrificing himself to protect Shalla-Bal’s homeworld.
Clips from First Steps suggest that Shalla-Bal has assumed this role instead.
What do Marvel fans think about a female Silver Surfer?
Enthusiasts believe Marvel’s creative team has orchestrated this change deliberately, particularly following the conclusion of the MCU’s Multiverse storyline.
In the comic series Earth X, Shalla-Bal briefly assumes the Silver Surfer identity.
This limited run depicted an alternative Earth within a darker, more dystopian Marvel reality. Certain enthusiasts have speculated that the upcoming picture might be employing a comparable approach.
A discussion thread on Reddit proposes two potential explanations, though be cautioned – these could constitute spoilers if they turn out to be accurate.
The original post explained: “I understand the confusion on why they chose Shalla-Bal over Norrin Radd, which is the way more mainstream character, I have two theories on this topic. One: First Steps is set in another universe that’ll eventually merge and be destroyed on Doomsday(or Secret Wars), I believe they’re saving Norrin Radd for the main timeline.”
The user elaborated further: ” Two: Shalla-Bal is the key to beating Galactus, she was chosen to relate most on Sue(who is starting a family), to be touched by the love of Sue and Reed, to be touched by their family dynamic as the four, and to be amazed at the birth of life. Remembering Norrin(who I assume has died because his power of Cosmic is passed to someone else) and her family through the four.”
Fantastic Four: The First Steps is in cinemas July 25