Who are Galactus and Silver Surfer? Meet MCU's new villains in Fantastic Four: First Steps

Time of India

23-07-2025

Fantastic Four: First Steps: Marvel is about to reintroduce the Fantastic Four, but this time, it's not just about stretchy arms or invisibility. The real buzz is around the cosmic villains, Galactus and the Silver Surfer. They're not your average bad guys. These two come from the far ends of space, and their presence signals a big shift in the MCU's tone.
Instead of another city-level threat, Marvel is aiming for something way bigger, older, and stranger. If you're wondering who these two are and why the internet is so hyped, here's a quick, easy breakdown.
Galactus: A god-like force of nature
Ralph Ineson, known for his deep voice and serious screen presence, plays Galactus. But don't expect a typical villain. Galactus is older than the universe. He doesn't want to destroy — he needs to. He feeds on planets to survive, like a cosmic predator. As Ineson put it, "He's not evil. He's beyond good and evil."
Galactus in 'THE FANTASTIC FOUR' pic.twitter.com/8LORwLX5D0
Director Matt Shakman described Galactus as a '14-billion-year-old vampire,' which tells you a lot about the movie's tone. He's not going to give speeches or throw punches. He'll loom, he'll consume, and he'll make the Fantastic Four feel small.
Visually, this Galactus looks more like the comics. No more cloud nonsense like in the 2007 version. He's huge, armored, and alien, with glowing eyes and a voice that could shake space.
Silver Surfer: Tragic, powerful, and not who you expected
Julia Garner plays Shalla-Bal, not the usual Norrin Radd. In the comics, she's from the same planet as Norrin and is often his love interest. In this version, she is the Silver Surfer — Galactus' herald, searching for planets he can consume.
The first look at Silver Surfer in THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS pic.twitter.com/jsmxizna3J
Garner says her Surfer is quiet, conflicted, and tragic. 'She doesn't speak much,' she explained in a recent interview. 'You feel her pain just from her body language.' She's not just a shiny alien on a board. She's someone who's lost everything and now serves a being who eats worlds.
This version of Silver Surfer adds mystery to the film. Is she loyal? Is she planning something? Can the Fantastic Four reason with her? That tension runs through the film and adds more emotion to all the action.
What is The Fantastic Four: First Steps about?
Marvel hasn't released the full plot, but this isn't an origin story. The movie is set in the 1960s, on an alternate Earth. It picks up with the Fantastic Four already formed and working as explorers and scientists. According to early leaks and set reports, they get pulled into something cosmic, something way beyond science.
That something turns out to be Galactus, the planet-eater, and his mysterious herald, the Silver Surfer. While Reed Richards and team try to stop them, the story also plays with themes of sacrifice, duty, and survival. Expect space travel, a retro vibe, and more serious emotions than your typical superhero flick.