Marvel Studios is set to kick off a bold new chapter with The Fantastic Four: First Steps in 2025, and while this reboot promises a fresh take on Marvel’s First Family, fans are buzzing over one surprising possibility: could the original version of the Silver Surfer still make an appearance?

At first glance, it seems like the MCU has gone in a different direction by casting Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal — a lesser-known but intriguing version of the Silver Surfer — instead of the classic Norrin Radd. But with recent set photos and hints from the latest trailer, some exciting theories have emerged that just might bring back the original cosmic hero in disguise.

Who Is Shalla-Bal and Why Does She Matter?

In the comics, Shalla-Bal isn’t just another name in the galaxy — she’s deeply connected to the origin story of the original Silver Surfer. On their home planet Zenn-La, she grew up alongside Norrin Radd, eventually becoming his lover. When Galactus arrived to consume their world, it was Norrin’s sacrifice — offering himself as the Devourer’s herald — that saved Zenn-La and transformed him into the Silver Surfer.

Centuries later, in the alternate universe Earth-X, Shalla-Bal herself becomes the Silver Surfer, joining forces with a reformed Norrin Radd to help maintain balance in the universe. This version of her story is likely what Marvel is drawing inspiration from for The Fantastic Four: First Steps .

New Set Photos Reveal Clues About Her Origin

Fresh images from the Daily Mail show Julia Garner out of costume, wearing elegant attire and seemingly bowing toward the ocean. Fans believe this could be the moment when Galactus bestows the Power Cosmic upon her, officially transforming her into the Silver Surfer.

If that’s the case, then it opens the door for Norrin Radd to appear — even if only briefly or through flashbacks — since he plays such a pivotal role in Shalla-Bal’s journey in the comics.

Theory Time: Could Norrin Radd Become the Silver Surfer in the MCU?

Here’s where things get really interesting. If Shalla-Bal meets a tragic fate during the events of the film (a common trope in superhero origin stories), it would make perfect sense for Galactus to turn to her former love — Norrin Radd — to take her place.

Driven by grief or vengeance, Radd might accept the role willingly, especially if he believes the Fantastic Four were responsible for her death. It would not only give Marvel a dramatic way to introduce the classic Silver Surfer but also tie his arrival into the main plot of the movie.

Plus, thanks to the post-credits scene in Thunderbolts , we know the Fantastic Four will eventually travel to Earth-616 — setting the stage for Norrin Radd to become the Silver Surfer of the main MCU timeline in a potential sequel.

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Cast of The Fantastic Four: First Steps

• Pedro Pascal – Mr. Fantastic
• Vanessa Kirby – Invisible Woman
• Joseph Quinn – Human Torch
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach – The Thing
• Julia Garner – Silver Surfer (Shalla-Bal)
• Ralph Ineson – Galactus
• Paul Walter Hauser , John Malkovich , and Natasha Lyonne – Roles still undisclosed

Also read:

• The Fantastic Four: First Steps Might Kill Off a Fan-Favorite Character — And We’re Not Okay With It
• Andy Serkis Reveals How Tom Hardy Basically Played Two Roles At Once In Venom
• “Avengers: Doomsday” Chaos – Marvel Shoots Without Script or Cast!