The casting of Silver Surfer is making a lot of news. Disney Marvel has chosen Julia Garner to play a female Silver Surfer in the new Fantastic Four movie. It’s a very telling decision. There’s a lot to learn about this. I’ll try to unpack it as much as I can. I have no sources inside Disney or Marvel. I’ll just make observations as someone who worked in Hollywood for a lot of years. The female Silver Surfer is proof that the powers that be, have no clue. None. These are some of the most stubborn, stupid people to ever walk the face of the earth. Sadly, they think they’re smart. And they’re in charge. Thats the worst part. The female Silver Surfer is the canary in the comic fan coal mine. And it’s dead.
Let’s get this out of the way right now. Julia Garner is a fine actress. She said yes to a part. She’s cool. Zero problem with her. And also? I got no problem with a girl Silver Surfer. Yup. They have a girl version of the Silver Surfer in comics. I’m keenly aware of that. Know why? I’m a comic fan! And as a comic fan you realize there was a girl version of every fucking character they thought they could make a nickel off of. It was a low rent way of making some money. If the dude character was popular? They would always, always, always make a girl version. You should know that. There’s nothing fiercely original about the girl silver surfer. This isn’t something that fans have been hoping for or wishing for years would happen. It’s a political decision by douche suits in corporate. That’s it.
The Silver Surfer is iconic. His story is epic and tapped into something that just hits dudes hard on an emotional level. Loneliness. It may have been an accident when the character was created, maybe they just wanted a cool looking superhero with a surfboard to cash in on the popularity of surfing, but the loneliness of the Silver Surfer is why that guy has endured in comics. Yes, he looks cool, but there’s a story there that every dude can relate to on some level. It’s the same with Batman, he’s doomed to be alone. Do some thankless heroic shit and come home alone. The Silver Surfer is a guy. Yes, there’s a girl version. But the one we all want to see is a dude.
Disney Marvel will say there’s already been the Silver Surfer in a movie. Fine. I couldn’t tell you the name of that ‘Fantastic Four’ movie as it was highly forgettable, but I know the Silver Surfer parts are the only parts I do remember. That was performance was epic! Loved Fishburne’s Surfer!
So, here we go again. Disney Marvel is bleeding money. No one is going to their movies. They lost James Gunn to Warner D.C. and they seem hellbent on maintaining their level of failure. They are gonna keep the fail train rolling. They could make a movie that the fan and everyone would look forward to or they could be divisive and cast a girl version of a beloved character that hasn’t gotten his due on screen yet. They chose this. Disney Marvel chose this path. Why? Becasue they don’t understand the characters or why they’re even popular. For them it’s much easier to just ‘Put a chick in it. Make it lame.’ Or maybe, just maybe The girl version will swoop in and save the Silver Surfer. That would be the ultimate girl movie. She comes in and saves him. Ha! It’s all so lame. Have a great day. And if you’re a fan of Silver Surfer? We just got screwed… again. Tis a lonely life.
