After Fantastic Four: First Steps, This Long-Rumored MCU Project is Even More Essential

One long-rumored Marvel Cinematic Universe project has been perfectly set up in 2025’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and we’re desperate to see it. Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps introduced audiences to a new-and-improved version of Marvel’s First Family, including Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), and the Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). For their MCU debut as the central superhero team of Earth 828, the Fantastic Four were pitted against one of the universe’s most powerful antagonists – and his formidable Herald.

The planet-eater Galactus (Ralph Ineson) was aided in his mission to acquire Franklin Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps by Shalla-Bal’s Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). This incredibly powerful character gains her abilities from the Power Cosmic gifted to her by Galactus, allowing her to survive in the void of space, travel at immense speeds on her metallic surfboard, and pull off many more impressive feats. The Silver Surfer’s MCU debut has been celebrated, so it would be great to see her return in a Special Presentation, and one focused on the Cosmic Wanderer has long been rumored.

MCU Fans Deserve The Long-Rumored Silver Surfer Project

So far, Marvel Studios has released only two Special Presentations, 2022’s Werewolf by Night and The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. While it seemed as though Marvel may have abandoned the format, the Punisher (Jon Bernthal) will be returning in a Special Presentation in 2026. The return of the Special Presentation format makes us hopeful that the Silver Surfer can become the subject of her own hour-long special. The showcase of her powers, the brief tease of her backstory, and her unresolved ending in The Fantastic Four: First Steps mean there is plenty for a Special Presentation to explore.

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Speculation of a Special Presentation focused on the Silver Surfer first arose in 2022, back when the version of the Silver Surfer expected to debut in the MCU was still Norrin Radd. Radd was the primary Silver Surfer of Earth 616 in Marvel Comics, while Shalla-Bal became the Herald of Galactus in the Earth X timeline. Norrin Radd previously appeared – portrayed by Doug Jones and voiced by Laurence Fishburne – in 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, but Garner’s performance as Shalla-Bal has made us seriously glad Marvel Studios went in a different direction.

The Silver Surfer showed off some remarkable gifts in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and these deserve more exploration. Additionally, it would be great to examine her backstory more, including her sacrifice to save her entire world, and a Special Presentation is the perfect format to bring this story to life. At the end of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Shalla-Bal sacrificed herself again to push Galactus into the teleportation bridge, leaving her story open-ended, and presenting the perfect jumping off point for a Special Presentation in the MCU’s future.

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