The Fantastic Four is being recast for the third time for Marvel’s upcoming film The Fantastic Four: First Steps. While fans of the cinematic adaptations of Marvel comics are familiar with the four superheroes, Reed Richards (Mr Fantastic), Sue Storm (Invisible Woman), Johnny Storm (Human Torch) and Ben Grimm (The Thing), this is Galactus and Shalla-Bal’s first appearance in the film medium. For all the MCU fans, new and old, here is a little dive into the background of these characters.
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Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Galactus made his comics debut in Fantastic Four #48 back in 1966, five years after the superheroes got their first comic book. He was initially a space explorer named Galan whose universe ceased to exist after the end of the sixth cosmos (a reality which no longer exists), and he was approached by the sentience of the sixth cosmos. After fusing with the essence of the sentience, Galactus, the ‘devourer of worlds’, was born. Unlike most villains in comics and in the MCU, Galactus holds no malice against Earth or any planet; he just needs to consume worlds in order to sustain his own life force. In fact, Galactus has himself admitted that one day he will give back to the universe much more than he has taken, presumably at the end of the currently existing seventh cosmos.
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As the devourer of worlds, Galactus has several soldiers, which are called Heralds, who travel the universe and announce his arrival before he proceeds to consume all loving beings. One of his most well-known Heralds was Norrin Radd, who willingly volunteered to become his soldier in exchange for sparing his planet of Zenn-La. Radd was then converted to the Silver Surfer, who made an appearance in the film Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007). He served Galactus for numerous years, seeking uninhabited planets, but Galactus wanted to consume the energy-rich Earth, a decision that would cause a rift between the master and the servant. After being unable to consume Earth, Galactus punished Radd and created a force field that made him unable to leave Earth.
Shalla Bal (Marvel Comics)
From here we move on to a different Herald, Shalla Bal, who appears as the new Silver Surfer in the trailer for The Fantastic Four First Steps. Shalla was also an inhabitant of the planet Zenn-La and was Radd’s partner. The two got close after Radd lost his mother, and soon they were making plans for their future. Radd eventually had to leave her side when he offered to become the Silver Surfer, and Shalla mourned the loss of her love. After several episodes consisting of mutiny, destruction and resurrection, Shall even became the empress of her planet. Her stint as the Silver Surfer occurred in an alternate reality titled Earth X, where she is turned into the Silver Surfer post the death of Galactus. Reed and Sue’s firstborn, Franklin, assumes the role of Galactus in order to ensure the cosmic balance of the world.
Watch final trailer of The Fantastic Four: First Steps
In The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the character of Galactus will be played by Ralph Ineson, and his Herald, Shalla Bal, will be played by Julia Garner. The movie has been directed by Matt Shakman, and the rest of the cast includes Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. The film releases on July 25.
