The news came as a surprise to many as Ozark star Julia Garner is set to play Shalla-Bal version of Silver Surfer in The Fantastic Four. WandaVision director Matt Shakman is set to helm the film, screenplay comes from Josh Friedman, Jeff Kaplan, Eric Pearson and Ian Springer.
Matt Shakman Directed Fantastic Four Casts Julia Garner as Silver Surfer
The Fantastic Four (2025). Image Credit: Disney
Julia Garner has joined the cast of Marvel’s Fantastic Four as Shalla-Bal, a version of the classic comics character the Silver Surfer, according to a report by Deadline.
The Emmy-winning actor will join the previously announced cast members Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing.
Production will start this summer, and the film is slated for a release on July 25, 2025.
Julia Garner in Ozark (2017). Image Credit: Netflix
Created by Stan Lee and John Buscema, the character previously appeared in Marvel comic books, making her debut in 1968’s Silver Surfer #1. The Silver Surfer was previously played by Doug Jones and voiced by Laurence Fishburne in 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.
Fans Are Not Happy with This Casting? See How They Have Reacted
Julia Garner in A Wolf in Chic Clothing (2022). Image Credit: Netflix
Julia Garner won multiple Emmys for playing Ruth Langmoreon the Netflix crime drama Ozark. Garner slo won the best supporting actress in a musical, comedy or drama award at the 2023 Golden Globes for Ozark. She also earned an Emmy and Golden Globe nomination for her role in Inventing Anna.
Garner has also appeared in films like Grandma, The Assistant, and The Royal Hotel. Next up, she will star in the Wolf Man remake in the works at Blumhouse Productions.
Meanwhile, her casting report sparked mixed reactions among fans as some think that this is a terrible decision made by Marvel.
I love the actress, I hate the decision. Would have rather have her as Kitty Pride. Looks like I'll be sitting this one out, shame.
— Mayo Monkey (@8008smcgee) April 3, 2024
Woke. movie is dead on arrival
— BREAKING (@Breaking57) April 3, 2024
Cancel the whole movie pic.twitter.com/57imsetJY1
— Nuggets Run the West 🃏 (@Folkhero9) April 3, 2024
We don’t want this @MarvelStudios
— Xavier – The Mad Tweeter (@TheRealXavierP) April 4, 2024
Im shocked at this casting and I can bet online discourse will not be pleasent
— Eddie (@OHMYDIAZ) April 3, 2024
This gotta be the most terrible marvel news ever 😭
— 𝐊𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐦𝐢 (@papyfaye1) April 3, 2024
Oh, for FFS …..I'm not surprised, very disappointed.
— @AliRamovic (@darkrogue51) April 3, 2024
Garner, who hails from Riverdale, New York made her feature film debut in director Sean Durkin’s first feature film, Martha Marcy May Marlene, which was also the first film for MCU star Elizabeth Olsen.
