Fantastic Four: First Steps marks the first time the Silver Surfer has appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was a bit jarring for some that Julia Garner was cast as the surfer and that they were a woman instead of a man. However, there’s a possible explanation for why this is different from the comics and previous Fantastic Four movies.

First Steps, much of the discussion was centered around culture war issues. Chief among them was the movie’s decision to make the Silver Surfer a woman when people are used to the Surfer being a man.

She falls in love with Norrin Radd, who is the original Silver Surfer in the comics. He is turned into the cosmic power being after offering to become Galactus' herald, in return for sparing Shalla-Bal's home planet. Footage from First Steps sees that Shalla-Bal has seems to be the one who has taken on this mantle instead.