Original Silver Surfer actor Doug Jones praises Julia Garner's "gorgeous" new take on the character in the MCU's Fantastic Four: First Steps.
- March 13, 2026
AceShowbiz - Fantastic Four: First Steps has sparked conversation about its fresh take on the Silver Surfer, and Doug Jones, who originally portrayed the character in 2007, has now shared his thoughts on the latest version.
Doug Jones physically embodied Norrin Radd, the Silver Surfer, in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, while Laurence Fishburne provided the voice for the character. This 2007 film featured the classic version of the Silver Surfer as the herald of Galactus. However, the MCU’s 2025 release, First Steps, took a different route by introducing a Silver Surfer based on Shalla-Bal, played by Julia Garner.
In an interview with ComicBookMovie.com, Jones expressed admiration for Garner’s portrayal, calling it “gorgeous” and praising her courage in taking on a less well-known character from the comics. He acknowledged that most fans are familiar with Norrin Radd, but explained that Shalla-Bal, though originating from an alternate universe in the comics, provided a solid foundation for Garner’s performance.
“I thought Julia Garner did such a gorgeous job. And it was nice, and it was interesting to see the female Silver Surfer based on Shalla-Bal, the character from the comic books,” said Jones. “There was some fan scuttle about that because Norrin Radd was the more seen and more known Silver Surfer, but Shalla-Bal was an alternate universe Surfer from like one issue of the comic book. So, she did have some source material to base her on. So I thought it was brave of her to step into that, knowing that fans were going to be like, ‘Wait a second.’ But she was great and did it with great poise and great courage.”
While the two films differ in which Silver Surfer they focus on, their core essence remains the same. Both versions serve as Galactus’ herald, tasked with saving their homeworlds from destruction by the Devourer of Worlds. The ending decisions for Shalla-Bal in First Steps and Norrin Radd in the 2007 film mirror each other. A notable difference lies in their connections: Norrin Radd was primarily linked to Sue Storm (played by Jessica Alba in 2007), whereas Shalla-Bal is more closely tied to Johnny Storm, portrayed by Joseph Quinn in the 2025 film.
First Steps has been met with critical acclaim, holding an 86% "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a "Verified Hot" audience score of 90%. This marks a significant improvement compared to previous Fantastic Four movies. The 2007 Rise of the Silver Surfer earned a 38% critics' score and 51% audience score, while the 2005 Fantastic Four scored 28% and 45%, and the 2015 reboot stood at just 9% and 18%, respectively.
| Title | Rotten Tomatoes Critics' Score | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|---|---|---|
| Fantastic Four (2005) | 28% | 45% |
| Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) | 38% | 51% |
| Fantastic Four (2015) | 9% | 18% |
| The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) | 86% | 90% |
Besides Jones’s positive response, other former cast members have praised the new film. Ioan Gruffudd, who portrayed Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic in the 2005 and 2007 films, reviewed First Steps and commended the production, calling it "a superb homage to the original comics from the sixties." Gruffudd highlighted the acting, production design, costumes, score, and visual effects as exceptional, stating the characters are “alive and well and in safe hands.”
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is not only celebrated for its quality but also plays a vital role in setting up the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film serves as a foundation for MCU Phase 6 and the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. The confirmed cast for Doomsday includes the core Fantastic Four members from the 2025 film: Johnny Storm, Sue Storm (played by Vanessa Kirby), Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), and Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). The villain will be the iconic Doctor Doom, portrayed by Robert Downey Jr.
The film was released on July 25, 2025, with a runtime of 115 minutes and directed by Matt Shakman. The cast features Vanessa Kirby as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm, and Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal/the Silver Surfer, among others.
Overall, the enthusiastic response from original cast members and critics alike marks Fantastic Four: First Steps as a significant step forward, both creatively and commercially, for Marvel’s First Family in the MCU.
