The recently unveiled trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps provides an exciting glimpse of Julia Garner portraying the iconic Silver Surfer. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Garner revealed that she was initially unaware of her casting as the Silver Surfer, mistakenly assuming the character would be male. This revelation adds an intriguing twist to the character’s portrayal.

“I had a meeting with Matt Shakman, who is absolutely wonderful. We had our discussion at a restaurant in Burbank, although I can’t recall the specifics. I was aware that it was related to the Fantastic Four, but I was perplexed because I thought, ‘Isn’t the Silver Surfer a male character?’ I was willing to take on any role,” Garner recalled with a chuckle. “I have always admired Matt’s work, so I felt it was important to meet him as he is a brilliant director. During our conversation, he clarified that the character is actually Shalla-Bal and explained the whole narrative surrounding her.

Garner elaborated further, stating, “While he didn’t share extensive details about the film, we discussed various topics, including the 1960s. Our conversation was quite eclectic, and I initially doubted whether I would land the role because the meeting felt so scattered. I thought to myself, ‘How could he possibly choose me for this part?’ We drifted into discussions about communism and brutalist architecture among other subjects. Then, I received the news that I got the role. I was like, ‘Wait, really?’ It seemed we had a good connection, but you can never be too certain about these things,” she said.

As the character of the Silver Surfer is realized through advanced motion-capture technology, Garner did not see the final depiction of her character until the trailer was released. “I found the visual representation to be absolutely stunning. Interestingly, it has a unique aesthetic that could almost be seen on a fashion runway, which is something I always appreciate,” Garner noted. “Marvel fans have high expectations for costumes, and they need to be visually appealing. Ultimately, it is still a comic book adaptation. I’m eagerly anticipating more visuals, as I have only glimpsed the trailer and a few preliminary scenes, so it will be fascinating to see how the character is brought to life fully.

Garner continued to hint at the complexity of her character, mentioning the ambiguous loyalties of the Silver Surfer. “Is she aligned with her master, or is she merely following orders? There is an air of mystery surrounding her, and this enigma will gradually unfold for the audience throughout the film,” she explained. When asked about the possibility of reprising her role in a future spin-off or another Marvel film, Garner expressed her enthusiasm. “Absolutely, I would love to take on that challenge again. The Silver Surfer is such a fascinating character, and opportunities to explore any kind of mystery are rare in contemporary storytelling. I would be thrilled to portray such an intriguing character on screen again.

The official synopsis for The Fantastic Four: First Steps is as follows: “Set against a vibrant, retro-futuristic backdrop inspired by the 1960s, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” introduces Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ben Grimm/The Thing. They face an unprecedented challenge as they strive to protect Earth from a voracious cosmic entity known as Galactus (played by Ralph Ineson) and his mysterious Herald, the Silver Surfer (portrayed by Julia Garner). As Galactus plans to consume the planet and its inhabitants, the stakes become intensely personal for the family.” The film is scheduled to premiere in theaters on July 25th.