Julia Garner eyes solo 'Silver Surfer' movie

Julia Garner is ready to make cosmic waves in the Marvel Cinematic Universe—and she’s hoping the journey won’t stop with her debut in Fantastic Four: First Steps.

The Emmy-winning actress will play Shalla-Bal, a female incarnation of the iconic Silver Surfer, and she's already eyeing a standalone film.

In a recent interview, Garner shared her excitement about the role and her desire to explore the Silver Surfer’s story in greater depth. "100% I would love to do that," she said when asked about leading a solo Silver Surfer project.

She described her character as a “mysterious and ambiguous figure,” one who serves the world-devouring cosmic entity Galactus, played by Ralph Ineson.

Portraying the Silver Surfer is a major departure for Garner, who is best known for her grounded, gritty roles in series like Ozark.

To prepare, she dove deep into Marvel lore, studying Fantastic Four comics and analyzing the visual art behind the Silver Surfer’s smooth, space-gliding style.

Despite her real-life fear of the ocean, Garner embraced the cosmic surfboard-riding character, calling it “the most unexpected, but incredible challenge.”

Fantastic Four: First Steps, directed by Matt Shakman, is set to premiere on July 25, 2025.

The film is set in a retro-futuristic 1960s and stars Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm.

The film will introduce Garner’s Shalla-Bal as Galactus prepares to consume Earth, setting the stage for epic cosmic conflict.

Though Marvel Studios hasn’t announced a Silver Surfer solo film, Garner’s passionate interest and fresh take on the character could open the door for a deeper exploration of Shalla-Bal’s story in future MCU phases.

Fans are already buzzing about the bold casting and the potential for a female-led, intergalactic Marvel adventure.