Do the Latest ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Set Photos Reveal Another Galactus’ Herald in the Movie?

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As a seasoned gamer of Marvel lore, having navigated countless cosmic battles and intricate narratives since my early days of rolling polyhedral dice in dimly lit basements, I must say the latest set leak for “Fantastic Four: First Steps” has me both excited and intrigued.

2025 marks the arrival of “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” a much-awaited addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) lineup. This upcoming film will be our initial encounter with Marvel’s founding family, as well as some of their most renowned adversaries.

It’s been verified that Galactus will indeed make an appearance, with Ralph Ineson providing his voice. Furthermore, Julia Garner has been chosen to portray Shalla-Ball, a female variant of the Silver Surfer who serves as Galactus’ Herald in this production.

At the moment, filming for “Fantastic Four: First Steps” is happening at Pinewood Studios in London. Already, some set secrets have been revealed. For instance, pictures have emerged of Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm cradling a young Franklin Richards, and a recent video clip showed the crew fine-tuning The Thing’s costume.

The recently leaked photos might suggest either a minor detail or a major spoiler for the upcoming “First Steps” series. A picture that’s been circulating online, believed to be from this production, depicts a woman dressed in black and adorned with gold body paint. The Comicodigy X account posted this image, claiming it shows Nova, who is rumored to be the Herald of Galactus, seemingly on the set of The Fantastic Four.

Herald of Galactus “Nova” seemingly on set of The Fantastic Four

— Comicodigy (@comicodigy) August 30, 2024

Nova, on the other hand, is not associated with Shalla-Bal but serves as a unique Herald for Galactus. Frankie Raye, who secretly became Phineas Horton’s stepdaughter, gained powers resembling the original Human Torch and later developed romantic feelings for Johnny Storm, the current Human Torch. For a while, she was part of the Fantastic Four before choosing to become Galactus’ new Herald, known as Nova. This decision was made to protect Earth and explore new worlds. As Nova, she guided Galactus to various planets, but the responsibility of destroying inhabited ones began to affect her psychologically, eventually leading to her dismissal. Later, she joined forces with previous Heralds to combat her fearsome successor, Morg, sacrificing herself in the fight. However, she miraculously returned from the dead.

To be honest, the idea that Julia Garner’s character might not be our permanent Silver Surfer in the movie feels a bit far-fetched, but it’s intriguing considering whispers of two Surfers making an appearance. As a fan, I have to admit my initial excitement was tainted when Julia Garner was cast as the Surfer. Many of us had hoped for Norrin Radd, the human who became the Silver Surfer in the comics. Additionally, Shalla-Bal, the character Julia seems to be portraying, is not as prominent among the Heralds, leaving some fans feeling underwhelmed. However, recent speculation hints at Garner’s role being a one-off, with another Surfer set to take over later on in the film.

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2024-08-31 10:43