Julia Garner, who will portray Shalla-Bal in the upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps, recently addressed her role as the female version of the iconic Silver Surfer. In an interview with ScreenRant, she was asked whether her character would be rendered in CGI or portrayed with live-action effects.
Garner, known for her roles in Inventing Anna and Wolf Man, kept her response vague but intriguing. She described Shalla-Bal’s costume as “shiny,” which is a common trait of Silver Surfer characters.
However, she did not confirm whether her version of Shalla-Bal would be fully CGI or a combination of CGI and practical effects, saying, “We’ll wait and see.”
Shiny and Mysterious
Garner’s cryptic answer about the costume being “shiny” only adds to the mystery surrounding her role. While the Silver Surfer is traditionally depicted with a metallic, reflective surface, it’s unclear whether this will be achieved with a physical costume or CGI.
Fans have been speculating that Garner’s character may have a physical costume, as some set photos suggest the use of practical effects for other characters, like The Thing, played by Ebon Moss-Bachrach.
However, Garner’s reference to “all the Silver Surfers being shiny” also hints at a more comic-accurate portrayal, which has historically been achieved with CGI.
Given the high level of technology in 2024, it’s likely that the character will be rendered primarily through CGI, as seen in the 2007 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer film, where the character was also portrayed through CGI.
What This Means for the Movie
While we still don’t have a clear answer on the exact approach, it’s reasonable to assume that CGI will play a significant role in bringing Shalla-Bal to life, especially considering her metallic skin. This would align with Marvel’s history of blending practical and CGI effects for characters like The Thing.
Fans will likely have to wait for the movie’s release to see how the character is portrayed, but Garner’s comments have only heightened anticipation for Fantastic Four: First Steps, which promises to introduce a new chapter for the beloved superhero team.
