Marvel Studios has set the internet ablaze with the release of the first trailer for "Fantastic Four: First Steps," revealing Emmy-winner Julia Garner as the Silver Surfer—a dramatic reimagining of the classic Marvel character. Traditionally portrayed as the male Norrin Radd, the Silver Surfer is now Shalla-Bal, a character with deep roots in Marvel lore but rarely seen in the spotlight. Garner’s Silver Surfer delivers a chilling warning: “Your planet has been marked for death,” as she arrives on Earth as the herald of the cosmic threat, Galactus, voiced by Ralph Ineson.
The film, directed by Matt Shakman, transports Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn), and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach)—to a retro-futuristic 1960s Manhattan. The trailer teases high-stakes action, including Johnny Storm’s fiery clash with the new Surfer and the looming arrival of Galactus, whose massive presence overshadows the city.
Notably, this marks the first time a female Silver Surfer leads a Marvel film, signaling a bold new direction for the franchise. The cast also hints at a major subplot: Sue Storm’s pregnancy, potentially introducing Franklin Richards, a pivotal figure in Marvel comics.
"Fantastic Four: First Steps" hits theaters July, 202. With Marvel keeping key plot details under wraps, fans are left speculating about Shalla-Bal’s true motives—and what else the MCU has in store.
