Julia Garner Opens Up About Playing Shalla-Bal in The Fantastic Four: First Steps and Filming in Motion Capture

Julia Garner revealed that she filmed all her scenes as Shalla-Bal for Marvel’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps entirely in a motion capture suit.

In a recent interview with Who What Wear UK, Garner talked about how the mysterious world of the Silver Surfer influenced her approach to playing Shalla-Bal. She shared that playing this iconic character was a completely new experience for her, unlike any role she had done before.

Garner said that acting in a motion capture suit meant she had to imagine everything, like she was auditioning, even though there were physical sets. Without costumes, hair, or makeup, she had to rely completely on her acting to bring Shalla-Bal to life.

She said, “With the Silver Surfer, there’s still something very mysterious about it. That mystery is very important to me as an actor. It’s such an iconic character, and it felt very different for me. I’ve never played a character like that.” She added, “You have to imagine everything when you’re doing it, as if you’re auditioning. Even though we had the sets, I didn’t have my costume or hair and makeup or anything.”

Filming recently wrapped in Spain, and the movie is now in the post-production stage. Matt Shakman directs the film from a script penned by Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer, which has undergone a rewrite by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber. The film stars Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing, Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne, and Sarah Niles.

During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Garner also said her female Silver Surfer appearance would be “really shiny,” like in previous portrayals of the Silver Surfer and in comic books.

Garner said, “I can’t really speak a lot about that project.” She added, “All I can just say is that I’m very lucky to have a part in that project, and the Fantastic Four are fantastic. They are so amazing in this. I’m very excited for people to see them. I’m assuming that this Silver Surfer is gonna be really shiny like in the other previous ones and the comic books. So, yeah, that’s all I’m gonna say.”

Here’s the plot details for The Fantastic Four: First Steps:

Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduces Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/Human Torch, and Ben Grimm/The Thing—as they face their most daunting challenge yet. Forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, they must defend Earth from a ravenous space god named Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Garner). And if Galactus’ plan to devour the entire planet and everyone on it weren’t bad enough, things suddenly get very personal.

The film is produced by Kevin Feige, Grant Curtis, and Nick Pepin.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps will hit theaters and IMAX on July 25, 2025.