Marvel fans were left divided after the first trailer for Fantastic Four reboot dropped on Thursday, with some slamming the ‘woke‘ twist on the iconic Silver Surfer.
The character has traditionally been portrayed as male in both Marvel comics and on screen, with Doug Jones (voiced by Laurence Fishburne) taking on the role in 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise Of the Silver Surfer.
Now, it’s Julia Garner stepping into the intergalactic role, playing the Shalla-Bal incarnation of the Surfer, who makes a dramatic entrance in the new trailer for Fantastic Four: First Steps.
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Marvel fans were in an uproar after the first trailer for Fantastic Four reboot dropped on Thursday
While some welcomed the reboot after 2015’s flop, the trailer sparked immediate outrage.
One social media user said on X: ‘Call me the friend that isn’t woke enough but I hate that Silver Surfer is a woman.
Another added: ‘Silver Surfer is a dude. Disney don’t learn.’
‘Silver Surfer was a male in the movie, and the back story proved that. This movie is about to fail if wokeness is included in it. Fan bases like traditional stuff and no changes to comic history,’ a third chimed in.
Changes: Julia Garner will stepping into the intergalactic role
Coming soon: The actress will be portraying the Silver Surfer in Fantastic Four: First Steps (pictured at the Golden Globes in LA in January)
Some were ready to ditch the film entirely.
‘The Fantastic Four is more M-She-U slop sex swapping the Silver Surfer, one of Marvel’s most iconic characters. Don’t buy this new narrative that woke is dead. They’re doing the SAME things at Disney Marvel. Boycott The Fantastic Four: First Steps,’ one user raged.
While defenders of the trailer pointed out that Marvel Comics has in fact depicted a female Silver Surfer in alternate storylines, angry fans weren’t buying it.
One user said: ‘#FantasticFour is ruined they put a woman as SILVER SURFER WHY. I don’t care there’s an alternate universe that has one it was wack because it only lasted for 1 series!!! SILVER SURFER IS A MAN!!!!!!’
Another fan posted a side-by-side comparison of Doug Jones’ 2007 portrayal and Julia Garner’s new version, captioning it: ‘Greatest downgrade of Silver Surfer ever in Fantastic Four.’
And in a comment that sparked even more debate, one user wrote: ‘How long will I have to wait until I see a white Black Panther? Serious question.’
Outrage: The trailer sparked immediate backlash on social media
Debate: While defenders of the trailer pointed out that Marvel Comics has in fact depicted a female Silver Surfer in alternate storylines, angry fans weren’t buying it
Iconic: Doug Jones (voiced by Laurence Fishburne) took on the role in 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
But while fans finally got a glimpse of the cosmic chaos, Marvel is still keeping Galactus under wraps.
Fans get a shadowy shot of the planet-devouring giant stomping through a city, but the full MCU makeover remains a mystery.
According to the official synopsis, the film finds Marvel’s First Family at a breaking point.
Not only does the trailer unveil the new Silver Surfer, but it also confirms that Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) is pregnant with Reed Richards’ (Pedro Pascal) child.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps trailer may mark a bold new chapter for Marvel’s First Family, but judging by the uproar, it’s already shaping up to be one of the franchise’s most controversial.
