Julia Garner is making a cosmic leap into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The Ozark alum and Emmy-winning actress has been cast as the Silver Surfer in Marvel’s upcoming Fantastic Four film, a high-profile role that marks her superhero debut.
Garner will portray a gender-bent take on the iconic cosmic character – specifically Shalla-Bal, a female incarnation of the Silver Surfer drawn from Marvel lore.
The casting, first reported by Deadline and later confirmed by Entertainment Weekly, positions Garner as a key player in the Marvel franchise’s next phase.
Joining Marvel’s first family on screen
By landing the Silver Surfer part, Garner joins a star-studded ensemble bringing Marvel’s “First Family” to the big screen.
Fantastic Four: First Steps (the film’s newly revealed subtitle) is directed by Matt Shakman (WandaVision) and introduces a fresh iteration of the superhero team.
Garner’s Silver Surfer will appear alongside Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch, Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing – and even Ralph Ineson as the cosmic villain Galactus.
This all-star casting signals Marvel’s ambition for the reboot, with Entertainment Weekly calling Garner “the herald of Galactus” now arriving in the MCU. Her role is significant not only because Silver Surfer is a beloved character, but also because it’s a bold reinterpretation – in comics, Shalla-Bal was the interstellar love of the original (male) Silver Surfer before taking up the cosmic mantle herself.
First look: A shiny debut in the trailer
This week, Marvel gave fans their first glimpse of Julia Garner in her out-of-this-world new role. A Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer unveiled at CinemaCon in Las Vegas debuted an exciting first look at Garner’s Silver Surfer, complete with her character’s signature metallic sheen.
In the footage, a gleaming Silver Surfer materializes before the Fantastic Four and delivers a chilling proclamation: “Your planet has been marked for death.”
The ominous line, aimed at the heroes, confirms that Galactus – the world-devouring cosmic entity whom the Surfer serves – is on his way to Earth. The trailer moment thrilled attendees and quickly made waves online, especially since it paid off a tease Garner herself had made.
Earlier, while speaking with Entertainment Weekly, the actress joked that she assumed her Silver Surfer “is gonna be really shiny,” and the new footage proved her right.
The brief teaser also showcased the film’s retro-futuristic tone, though plot specifics remain under wraps to avoid spoilers.
Garner on taking the Marvel plunge
Julia Garner has been characteristically tight-lipped about the specifics of her Silver Surfer role, but she’s expressed excitement about joining the Marvel family.
“I can’t really speak a lot about that project,” she told Entertainment Weekly in a recent interview while promoting another film.
“All I can just say is that I’m very lucky to have a part in that project, and the Fantastic Four are fantastic… I’m assuming that this Silver Surfer is gonna be really shiny,” Garner quipped, coyly acknowledging the character’s iconic look.
It’s the first time Marvel has courted the 30-year-old actress, and she admitted that landing the part was about “what feels right” in terms of connecting with a character taking on Silver Surfer, Garner follows a line of prestigious performers who have crossed into the superhero genre, and her involvement is already being met with enthusiasm by fans and industry watchers alike.
Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige has teased Fantastic Four as a “big pillar” of the MCU’s future, and casting an actress of Garner’s caliber underscores that intent.
From award-winning dramas to blockbuster adventures
Garner’s leap into blockbuster territory comes after a string of acclaimed performances on television and film.
She’s best known for her Emmy-winning turn as the scrappy Ruth Langmore on Netflix’s Ozark, a role that earned her three Primetime Emmy Awards by the series’ end.
She also wowed audiences as a chameleonic con artist in Inventing Anna and earned praise for indie films like The Assistant (2019). With her Marvel role, Garner adds “silver-plated superhero” to a résumé already brimming with range.
Industry media have been quick to spotlight her trajectory:
TIME magazine recently highlighted how Garner’s intense, shape-shifting performances have made her one of Hollywood’s most versatile young stars, now poised to bring that talent to the MCU (a franchise increasingly known for recruiting prestige actors).
Beyond the Marvel universe, Garner has other projects keeping her in the spotlight. She stepped into the horror genre with a part in Leigh Whannell’s Wolf Man, a 2025 reboot of the classic monster tale. That film – starring Ryan Gosling and set for release in January – gave Garner a taste of effects-driven, transformative cinema, perhaps a fitting warm-up for donning Silver Surfer’s cosmic chrome.
She’s also been mentioned in connection with high-profile biopics and dramas (including a now-paused Madonna biopic), showing an appetite for diverse roles.
As awards buzz continues to follow her (she picked up a Golden Globe in 2023 for Ozark and has dozens of nominations to her name), Garner’s venture into the Marvel realm could open even more doors. Critics and fans will be watching to see if her blockbuster turn brings new accolades or simply cements her status as a bankable, multi-genre leading lady.
What’s next for Garner’s Silver Surfer
With production on Fantastic Four expected to kick off later this year and a release date set for July 25, 2025, Julia Garner is gearing up for a transformative year.
The actress has been spotted training and prepping for the physically demanding role, though details on her Silver Surfer costume and powers are being kept under wraps. Marvel is likewise guarding story secrets – the film is not an origin story, instead dropping the heroes (and the Silver Surfer) into action on day one.
Still, the significance of Garner’s casting isn’t lost on anyone. Playing the Silver Surfer (a character last seen on film in 2007) in a bold new way positions her at the forefront of Marvel’s next era.
As hype builds through teaser footage and interviews, Garner’s take on the Silver Surfer is already one of the most talked-about aspects of Fantastic Four.
Fans of Julia Garner’s past work can look forward to seeing her charisma and intensity channeled into a completely different kind of character – one that soars through space on a surfboard and heralds unimaginable threats. If the early footage and Garner’s own excitement are any indication, her Silver Surfer will shine (quite literally) as one of the MCU’s most intriguing new heroes.
In the meantime, Garner continues to balance high-profile franchise commitments with her grounded dramatic roots, demonstrating the range that has made her one of Hollywood’s most exciting talents.
The countdown is on to see her cosmic debut; as the Fantastic Four tagline might put it, the future of the MCU just got a lot shinier.
