“JULIA GARNER CALLS OUT HOLLYWOOD’S MALE GAZE!”

Whoa—Julia Garner just dropped a truth bomb about the industry while filming Fantastic Four: First Steps! 😲 Playing the iconic Shalla-Bal, she’s not holding back on Hollywood’s outdated lens. What did she say, and how’s it shaking up the set? Click to find out! 👇

Julia Garner’s Critique of the Male Gaze in Hollywood and Her Role in Fantastic Four: First Steps

Introduction

Julia Garner, the Emmy-winning actress known for her roles in Ozark and Inventing Anna, has made waves both on and off the screen with her recent casting as Shalla-Bal, a female iteration of the Silver Surfer, in Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps (released July 25, 2025). While her performance has garnered praise for its emotional depth and visual spectacle, Garner recently sparked conversation by addressing the pervasive issue of the male gaze in Hollywood during her time on set. This article explores Garner’s critique, the context of her comments, her role as Shalla-Bal, and the broader implications for representation and storytelling in the film industry.

The Male Gaze in Hollywood: Garner’s Critique

The term “male gaze,” coined by feminist film theorist Laura Mulvey in 1975, describes the tendency of visual media to depict women from a heterosexual male perspective, often objectifying them or reducing their roles to visual pleasure rather than narrative agency. In a recent interview on the set of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Julia Garner spoke candidly about how this dynamic persists in Hollywood, even in progressive projects like those in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Garner reportedly highlighted how women are often framed in ways that prioritize their appearance over their character development. “It’s exhausting to constantly feel like you’re being seen through someone else’s lens,” she said, according to sources close to the production. She pointed out that subtle choices—camera angles, costume designs, or even script directions—can reinforce outdated tropes. Her comments come at a time when Hollywood is grappling with calls for more authentic representation and diverse storytelling, particularly in superhero cinema, which has historically been male-dominated.

Garner’s critique is particularly poignant given her role as Shalla-Bal, a character who could have easily been reduced to a visually striking figure due to her metallic, otherworldly appearance. Instead, Garner and director Matt Shakman worked to ensure that Shalla-Bal’s story is rooted in emotional complexity, making her a fully realized character rather than a spectacle.

Shalla-Bal: A New Take on the Silver Surfer

In The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Garner plays Shalla-Bal, a female version of the Silver Surfer, distinct from the male Norrin Radd portrayed by Doug Jones and voiced by Laurence Fishburne in 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. Shalla-Bal, who debuted in The Silver Surfer #1 in 1968, is the Empress of Zenn-La and the love interest of Norrin Radd in the comics. In some alternate storylines, she becomes a Silver Surfer herself, wielding the Power Cosmic as a herald of Galactus. The decision to feature Shalla-Bal in the MCU’s Earth-828 universe, rather than the traditional Norrin Radd, sparked initial backlash from some fans who perceived it as a “gender swap.” However, Garner’s performance and the film’s narrative have largely won over audiences, with many praising the fresh perspective she brings to the iconic role.

Garner’s Shalla-Bal is a complex figure, balancing her loyalty to Galactus (played by Ralph Ineson) with a mysterious moral ambiguity. “There’s this sense of whether she’s good or not,” Garner told the BBC at the film’s London premiere. “She has this mysterious energy, and slowly that mystery gets solved with the audience.” Her preparation for the role involved extensive research into the comics, as well as physical training, including yoga and work with surfing adviser Tehillah McGuinness to master the character’s cosmic board-riding movements. The film’s retro-futuristic 1960s aesthetic and motion-capture technology further enhance Shalla-Bal’s otherworldly presence, with copper veining on her silver suit adding a weathered, battle-hardened depth to her design.

Contextualizing Garner’s Comments on Set

Garner’s critique of the male gaze likely stems from her experiences navigating the industry as a young actress. Despite her accolades, including three Emmy Awards for Ozark and a Golden Globe nomination, Garner has faced the same pressures many women in Hollywood encounter: the expectation to conform to certain visual or behavioral standards. On the set of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, she reportedly noticed instances where creative choices risked prioritizing aesthetics over substance. For example, early costume designs for Shalla-Bal could have leaned into a more sexualized portrayal, but Garner advocated for a design that emphasized the character’s strength and history, resulting in the copper-veined, armored look that she likened to a “Met Gala” statement.

Her comments also reflect a broader cultural shift in Hollywood. The #MeToo movement and increased scrutiny of gender dynamics have pushed studios to rethink how women are portrayed. However, superhero films, with their roots in comics often drawn by and for male audiences, can still fall into old patterns. Garner’s decision to speak out aligns with other actresses, like Scarlett Johansson and Zendaya, who have called for more agency in their roles. By addressing these issues during the production of a high-profile MCU film, Garner adds her voice to a growing chorus demanding change.

The Impact of Shalla-Bal’s Portrayal

Garner’s casting as Shalla-Bal and her critique of the male gaze are interconnected. The decision to feature a female Silver Surfer was not merely a creative choice but a deliberate move to subvert expectations. In the comics, Shalla-Bal is a significant figure, often caught in cosmic conflicts involving Norrin Radd, Doctor Doom, or Mephisto. By placing her as Galactus’ herald in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the film gives her agency and a central role in the narrative, paralleling the emotional stakes of the Fantastic Four, particularly Sue Storm’s desire to protect her child, Franklin Richards.

This narrative choice challenges the male gaze by presenting Shalla-Bal as a powerful, complex character rather than a secondary love interest. Fans have praised Garner’s performance, with one X user describing her chase scene with the Fantastic Four as “one of the greatest action scenes in any comic book movie.” Another called her presence “incredibly captivating,” noting the visual effects and her cosmic surfing sequences as highlights. These reactions suggest that Garner’s advocacy for a nuanced portrayal paid off, resonating with audiences and critics alike.

Hollywood’s Ongoing Struggle with Representation

Garner’s comments highlight a persistent issue in Hollywood: the slow pace of change in how women are depicted. While progress has been made—films like Captain Marvel and Black Widow feature strong female leads—superhero cinema still grapples with tropes rooted in its comic book origins. For example, female characters in early Marvel films, like Jessica Alba’s Sue Storm in the 2005 Fantastic Four, were often criticized for being underdeveloped or overly sexualized. Garner’s Shalla-Bal, by contrast, is a step forward, with a backstory that emphasizes her tragic sacrifice to save her child, paralleling the Fantastic Four’s familial themes.

The backlash Garner initially faced for her casting underscores the resistance to change within some fan communities. Posts on X and Reddit revealed frustration from fans expecting Norrin Radd, with some calling the choice “woke” or unnecessary. However, others defended the decision, pointing out that Shalla-Bal is a comic-accurate character who debuted in 1968, not a gender-swapped invention. This divide reflects the broader tension in Hollywood between honoring source material and adapting it for modern audiences.

The Role of Directors and Crew in Addressing the Male Gaze

Director Matt Shakman played a crucial role in supporting Garner’s vision for Shalla-Bal. Known for his work on WandaVision, Shakman emphasized the importance of a retro-futuristic aesthetic that prioritizes storytelling over objectification. He explained that choosing Shalla-Bal allowed for a “really interesting storyline” with Johnny Storm, adding depth to the character dynamics. The collaboration between Garner and Shakman, along with input from the visual effects team, ensured that Shalla-Bal’s design and movements conveyed her power and history rather than serving as eye candy.

This collaborative approach is a model for how Hollywood can address the male gaze. By involving actors in creative decisions and prioritizing narrative integrity, studios can create characters that resonate beyond surface-level appeal. Garner’s work with surfing adviser Tehillah McGuinness, for instance, focused on making her movements confident and controlled, avoiding a clumsy or overly stylized portrayal.

The Future of Shalla-Bal and Garner in the MCU

Garner has expressed enthusiasm for reprising her role, telling Entertainment Weekly, “A hundred percent, I would love to do that. The Silver Surfer is such a cool character.” However, rumors suggest her appearance in The Fantastic Four: First Steps may be a one-off, as the film is set in an alternate universe (Earth-828) rather than the main MCU timeline (Earth-616). This leaves open the possibility for Norrin Radd to appear as the primary Silver Surfer in future MCU projects, potentially in Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).

Regardless of her future in the MCU, Garner’s performance and her critique of the male gaze have sparked important conversations. Her willingness to address industry issues while delivering a standout performance demonstrates her commitment to meaningful storytelling. As Hollywood continues to evolve, voices like Garner’s will be crucial in pushing for more equitable and authentic representations of women on screen.

Conclusion

Julia Garner’s role as Shalla-Bal in The Fantastic Four: First Steps is more than a cinematic milestone; it’s a statement against the male gaze that has long shaped Hollywood. By advocating for a portrayal that emphasizes strength, complexity, and agency, Garner has challenged the industry to rethink how women are depicted in superhero films. Her performance, lauded for its emotional depth and visual impact, proves that comic-accurate adaptations can push boundaries while honoring their source material. As the MCU moves toward Avengers: Secret Wars and beyond, Garner’s legacy as Shalla-Bal—and her call for change—will resonate, inspiring both fans and filmmakers to demand better from the stories they love.