Silver Surfer Fans Split: Julia Garner’s Shalla-Bal in New 'Fantastic Four' Sparks Debate

Julia Garner isn’t letting internet outrage ruin her cosmic moment. Speaking to the BBC at the London premiere of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the actress addressed fan complaints that the Silver Surfer should be played by a man.

"I said, 'I’m just going to still do my job'," Garner told reporters, completely unfazed by the debate.

She also pointed out that she’s not playing the original Norin Radd. "Also, it’s Shalla-Bal, so it’s different" she explained, highlighting that her Silver Surfer is a fresh spin on the character.

For context, Shalla-Bal first appeared in The Silver Surfer #1 in 1968 as the female counterpart to Norrin Radd — the version fans saw on screen in 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

Fans Split: "Hoping I Love Her, But Prefer Norrin"

On Reddit, reactions have been mixed, with many quick to clarify they aren’t attacking Garner herself. One fan put it simply:

"I have no problem with her, and I’m having an open mind and really hoping that I love her. With that being said I honestly just prefer Norrin, and wish it was him because Shalla is practically non-existent as a character meanwhile Norrin is a pretty prominent major character in most incarnations."

Another echoed the thought:

"This is true and I'm not advocating any sort of attacks towards any actor BUT when people think about Silver Surfer she’s not what most people think of so of course there will be disappointment... Doesn’t mean she still can’t be good."

Others offered a broader perspective, noting that even if Shalla-Bal never existed in the comics, introducing a new Silver Surfer wouldn’t be an issue since this Fantastic Four film is set firmly within the MCU’s own canon. They suggested filmmakers may have deliberately avoided Norrin Radd because he was already central in a previous Fantastic Four movie, and rehashing his story could feel stale.

They also pointed out that using Norrin might create huge expectations to "do him justice," which Marvel might want to sidestep if this Silver Surfer is only a smaller supporting character or meets an unexpected fate — much like the disappointment some fans felt with Adam Warlock in Guardians Vol. 3. Lastly, some speculated Marvel could be saving Norrin Radd for a bigger, standalone introduction later on.