Silver Surfer Reportedly Set to Appear in Multiple MCU Projects Including a Solo Film
It looks like Marvel Studios may have big cosmic plans for Silver Surfer beyond his upcoming debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and we might not be getting just one Surfer, either.
According to industry scooper Daniel Richtman: “There are plans for Silver Surfer [to] be in multiple projects after [The Fantastic Four: First Steps] including a solo film.”
While he didn’t clarify which version of the character will be leading the charge, or when and where he’ll appear next, I’ve been hoping that Silver Surfer would have a long-term, cosmic role in the MCU.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is set in a retro-futuristic 1960s-inspired alternate timeline, not the Earth-616 continuity that most MCU projects occupy.
Director Matt Shakman has teased that the film pulls inspiration from various eras of Fantastic Four comics, including Earth X, a timeline that features a twist on the traditional Silver Surfer by introducing Shalla-Bal, a female version of the character who takes on the mantle instead of Norrin Radd.
Some have called her inclusion “woke,” despite the fact that Shalla-Bal has been part of Silver Surfer lore for decades. That said, the expectation among many fans is that we’ll still see the more well-known version of the character, Norrin Radd, eventually show up in Earth-616, especially if a solo film is truly in development.
There’s even speculation that Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars could be the next logical places for the Surfer to reappear. Both would offer a grand, multiversal playground where different versions of the character including Shalla-Bal and Norrin Radd could exist side by side.
But again, take it all with a grain of cosmic dust. Marvel Studios is known for keeping its long-term plans close to the chest, and with The Fantastic Four set to hit theaters this July, it’s unlikely we’ll get any official confirmation about spin-offs or future appearances until after the film lands.
As for Shakman, he’s made it clear his focus is on bringing the Fantastic Four and their world to life by going straight to the source material.
“I’m not so much looking at the other movies,” he explained in a previous interview. “I’m looking at the comics themselves. I'm a huge comic book fan. I’ve been a big fan of the Fantastic Four since I was a kid.”
“So going back to Kirby and Lee and Byrne and following all the way up to what's happening — certainly Hickman and Waid and Ryan North, what he's been doing,” he continued.
“I'm trying to figure out who these characters are to me and how to bring them to life in the best possible way, and that's really where I've started and how we've approached it.”
Whether it’s Shalla-Bal, Norrin Radd, or both, it’s exciting to hear that Silver Surfer may finally be getting the spotlight the character deserves in the MCU. If Marvel plays its cards right, the next phase of cosmic storytelling could be one of its most ambitious yet.
What are your hopes for Silver Surfer’s future in the MCU? Would you be down for a solo film featuring both versions?