Latest news with #TheSilverSurfer
News18
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Why Is Julia Garner Facing Backlash For Playing Silver Surfer In Fantastic Four Film
Last Updated: Reacting to the backlash, Julia Garner said, "I'm just going to still do my job." Ever since Julia Garner was revealed as the Silver Surfer in the upcoming movie, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, she has been at the receiving end of severe backlash. The main reason behind such criticism is that the actress is playing the female version of the iconic Marvel character. The Silver Surfer made its debut on the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the 2007 film Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Back then, the character was portrayed as a male, with actor Doug Jones playing it on the screen and Laurence Fishburne voicing it. And as Marvel has now changed Silver Surfer into a female in the new Fantastic Four film, the actress, as well as the makers, have been receiving backlash. Notably, Julia is not even playing the same version. Instead, she is playing Shalla-Bal, a female Silver Surfer, who does exist in the Marvel comics. It is not a made-up version, but a real comic book character, who was first seen in The Silver Surfer #1 in 1968, a female reiteration of Norrin Radd. Despite the accuracy, many fans were upset because they expected the original male version of the character. Taking to X, disappointed Marvel fans expressed their views on a female Silver Surfer. 'No. She is a terrible character. They didn't wanna a male herald. Fine. Pick a good female one. They couldn't even do that," said one fan. Another added, 'Nobody wants to see the most powerful hero in The marvel universe as a female. We want the OG surfer ripping s–t up and flying at light speed. The fact that Pedro Pascal is Mr. Fantastic tells you everything you need to know about this woke garbage." But not everyone was against Julia Garner's characters. Some came out in her support, praising her acting, with some even sharing how the female Silver Surfer came into being. One fan wrote, 'Gender swap means they changed the gender of a character. Shalla Ball is a totally original character, Norrin Radd's wife. There's more than 1 Silver Surfer in the comics." Julia Garner responds to criticism over the gender-swapped Silver Surfer role.'I'm just going to still do my job… and also it's Shalla-Bal so it's different… I was just happy that people are resonating with it and just like any other project, So I'm grateful to be at this… — MCU Film News (@MCUFilmNews) July 11, 2025 'People need to stop worrying about 'why' they chose to take this route and just accept it. The only thing you should be concerned about is whether or not the movie is good. Hope for it to be good because you want a good movie, right? You do not have creative control. Get over that part," a fan schooled those criticising. Meanwhile, the 31-year-old actress, who is set to play the character, addressed the criticism during the London premiere of the new Fantastic Four film. She told BBC, 'Oh, well, you know. I said, 'I'm just going to still do my job." Julia also reminded fans that she is playing Shalla-Bal, not Norrin Radd, who is the original Silver Surfer from the comics. 'Also, it's Shalla-Bal, so it's different," she mentioned. Julia's character was first seen in The Silver Surfer #1 in 1968, a female reiteration of Norrin Radd. The Fantastic Four: First Steps is releasing in theatres on July 25. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Julia Garner defends her role as Shalla-Bal in Fantastic Four, fans come to her defence and trash Marvel's CGI instead
This year has been a rollercoaster for superhero films. James Gunn officially took over the DC Universe and released a new Superman that's been met with mixed reactions. Over at Marvel, fans are still riding high on the unexpected success of Thunderbolts*, a gritty anti-hero ensemble that's been praised for bringing fresh energy to the genre. But now, all eyes are on Marvel's Fantastic Four reboot—especially after the reveal that a woman is now playing the Silver Surfer. Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal Actor Julia Garner, best known for her roles in Ozark (2017) and The Wolf Man, is stepping into the role of the Silver Surfer. Some fans weren't thrilled about the gender switch, questioning why a traditionally male character wasn't being kept that way. But Garner? She's unfazed. Speaking to the BBC at the London premiere of Fantastic Four, the 31-year-old actor addressed the backlash head-on: 'I said, 'I'm just going to still do my job,'' she said, choosing to focus on the work rather than the noise. Garner also pointed out that her character is not a direct reimagining of Norrin Radd, the original Silver Surfer, but a different take altogether. 'Also, it's Shalla-Bal, so it's different,' she added. For those unfamiliar with the comics, Shalla-Bal first appeared in The Silver Surfer #1 in 1968. She's often portrayed as a female counterpart or love interest to Norrin Radd. This means that Garner's casting isn't a total rewrite, but rather a dive into a lesser-explored character from the source material. Netizens react Now, there were definitely a bunch of comments that trolled Garner's casting. 'Is there reason the more iconic version was not used?' was one comment on X. Another said, 'Poor herald choice to open the franchise with.' One more comment read, 'No. She is a terrible character. They didn't wanna a male herald. Fine. Pick a good female one. They couldn't even do that.' And since female characters taking on roles traditionally played by men are often met with resistance from cult audiences, it's no surprise Garner feels defensive about hers. But after a thorough scroll on social media, it's noteworthy that many of the comments were quite supportive of Garner's role, even going so far as to research the origin of her character, Shalla-Bal. 'Not gender swapped. It's Noran Radd's wife. Comic accurate,' said one. Another claimed, 'Comic accurate so the only people who care are outing themselves as fake fans.' One more comment said, 'People are unnecessarily upset about her casting. She is a great choice, and none of us has even watched the movie yet. Also, the Silver Surfer has a female version in the comics, and she is playing Shalla-Bal. Those who are complaining should take some time to read the comics before jumping to conclusions.' Furthermore, many are claiming that the outrage is not about the gender-swap, it's about the CGI. 'It's not about the Gender swap. It's the CGI,' claimed one comment on X. 'Only issue I see is how awful the CGI is- I can't believe that CGI seems to actually have gotten worse,' read another comment. About the film The upcoming film will mark Fantastic Four's official entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Set against a retro-futuristic 1960s backdrop, the movie will follow the group as they embark on some of their earliest missions. As for the cast, it's stacked with big names from the industry. Pedro Pascal stars as Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm (Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm (Human Torch), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm (The Thing). Ralph Ineson plays Galactus, with Paul Walter Hauser, Natasha Lyonne, and John Malkovich rounding out the ensemble. The movie is set to release on July 25.
