Marvel Entertainment
Julia Garnerdoesn’t know how to surf.
“I don’t expect everybody to watchOzarkor [Inventing]AnnaorThe Assistant.
Below, Garner dives deep into what fans can expect from her version of the Silver Surfer.
Julia Garner as the Silver Surfer in ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’.Credit:Marvel Entertainment
I knew about some of the famous comic book characters, some of them I didn’t know.
So when I got presented with this opportunity, I was like, “Wait, what?
Yeah, I was in disbelief, almost because it was so cool.
Julia Garner.Monica Schipper/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
I really dived in.
Was there a specific comic book arc you pulled from for your performance?
Did you know how to surf already?
Julia Garner as Silver Surfer in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’.20th Century Studios/Marvel Studios
Or did you have to learn to become the Silver Surfer?
[Laughs] No, I am actually afraid of the ocean.
So no, but I can act.
So I incorporated surfing with the poses of a sculpture, like moving elegantly, like a dance.
No, I met up with Matt, who’s lovely.
I was just like, “Okay, well, I’ll play anything.”
And then he was explaining to me that it’s actually Shalla-Bal and that whole thing.
I was like, “I don’t know how he will hire me for this job.”
I mean, we were talking about communism, brutalist architecture, all this stuff.
Julia Garner as the Silver Surfer in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’.Marvel Entertainment
And then they were like, “You got it.”
I was like, “Wait, what?”
So I think that we vibed, but you never know, basically, is what I’m saying.
How did Matt describe this version of the Silver Surfer to you at first?
And when you got the script, how was she written on the page?
Does she stand with her boss, or is she just doing what she’s told?
This is obviously the first live-action Shalla-Bal we’re getting, which is exciting on its own.
What makes this version different is that the movie is just different.
Also, just the world feels so different with the 1960s retro futurism going on.
What was your training process like before filming began?
I wish it were as cinematic as it is in everybody’s mind, thinking it’s aRockytraining.
I wish I could say that.
I just did my basic exercising, some Pilates, and yoga.
But it wasn’t what you would [expect].
And at least that meant you didn’t have to get in the ocean to learn how to surf.
[Laughs] Yes, exactly.
But it’s funny, it’s so different.
It feels almost like if Silver Surfer was like a sculpture in a way.
Was this your first time using motion-capture technology for a role?
What was that like?
Yeah, that was my first time doing that technology, and it was crazy.
It was such a surreal experience.
What was your reaction when you saw yourself as the Silver Surfer for the first time?
I wasn’t super surprised, because Matt showed me a mockup of it.
I just thought it was so cool.
The costume has to be aesthetically pleasing to the eye, especially with Marvel.
At the end of the day, it is a comic book.
Shalla-Bal has a rich history in the comics.
That’s all I can say.
I know it’s a very Marvel tease, but also it’s like a real tease.
I haven’t seen the movie myself!
Which actors did you work with the most during filming?
Actually, I worked with all four, but I did a lot of days with Joe.
Joseph Quinn is so lovely, and I think he’s absolutely brilliant in this.
I was just happy to be a part of this movie.
But we’ll see.
Theres long been talk about a Silver Surfer spinoff movie.
Is that something youre interested in doing?
A hundred percent, I would love to do that.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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