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Julia Garner, star of The Fantastic Four: “Nothing is ever all black or all white”
The Marvel feature film The Fantastic Four: First Steps, one of the most anticipated films of 2025, will finally hit theaters on July 23rd, 2025. It’s the perfect opportunity to meet the actors starring as the two mysterious, magnetic, and unsettling antagonists: Julia Garner and Ralph Ineson.
Interview by Violaine Schütz.
One of the major strengths of the new Marvel production is its dazzling cast. Alongside the talented Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby, many other impressive actors star in the upcoming Fantastic Four.
An impressive cast for The Fantastic Four
Among them is the charismatic American actress Julia Garner, known for her powerful performances in the series Ozark and Inventing Anna. She takes on the role of the enigmatic – and sexy in her metallic bodysuit – antagonist of the superhero family: the Silver Surfer.
In this new blockbuster, she heralds the arrival of Galactus, a god-like figure who consumes planets to survive. Galactus is portrayed by Ralph Ineson, the British actor with a deep, ominous voice, known for his roles in Nosferatu and The Witch. Numéro talked to the two actors on Zoom while they are both in London, waiting for the film’s release on July 23rd, 2025.
Interview with Julia Garner and Ralph Ineson
Numéro: What drew your attention in the film The Fantastic Four?
Ralph Ineson: For me, like for most actors I guess, if Marvel comes knocking at my door, I’m going to read the script and most likely say yes. It’s quite an offer! Getting the chance to play Galactus, one of Marvel’s most iconic villains, was a real opportunity. So joining that project was a pretty easy decision to make. There really wasn’t much to discuss before I said yes.
Julia Garner: The character of the Silver Surfer is incredible, as is the whole Marvel universe and the world of the Fantastic Four. I also really liked the director, Matt Shakman (who directed WandaVision and some episodes of Fargo and Game of Thrones, ed.), and he turned out to be excellent. So, it was a solid yes for me too (laughs).
“Nothing is ever all black or all white.” Julia Garner
What were the biggest challenges you faced stepping into the skin of these cosmic characters?
Ralph Ineson: The challenge for any actor playing a non-human character is that the usual questions you ask yourself when building a role don’t really apply. So it becomes an interesting journey to try and connect with such an entity. There were also issues with the costume, which was really heavy and massive. Wearing that armour for ten days was hard, but the end result is splendid.
Julia Garner: Reading the script is one thing. Visualizing what’s going to happen on screen is something else. Especially when so much of the work is done in post-production. It wasn’t difficult per se, because there was a strong sense of trust on set. And the director was just brilliant. But yes, it was still a challenge for me!
Do you see your characters as villains, or rather as entities that transcend the notions of good and evil?
Ralph Ineson: From Galactus’s point of view, he’s not really a villain. Sure, he’s the antagonist of the film because he’s about to consume the planet where the protagonists live, which makes his actions quite nasty. Yet, he’s not making a moral choice. He’s a cosmic force, so devouring planets is his reason for being. He exists to maintain the cosmic balance. So if it’s not a moral decision, I don’t see how it could be evil. Yes, he’s doing something that’s not exactly good for the Fantastic Four or the Earth, but that doesn’t make him a bad guy.
“I thought a lot about Marlon Brando’s character in Apocalypse Now when playing Galactus.” Ralph Ineson
Julia Garner: Absolutely. I also think that when you have very clear intentions with your character, the audience is more likely to understand it. It’s not as straightforward as it seems (the Silver Surfer is an ambiguous and mysterious character and it’s unclear whether she’s entirely on Galactus’s side or not, ed.). Nothing is ever all black or all white.
Ralph, you mentioned driving through the Mont Blanc tunnel and looking at a lot of skyscrapers to imagine the World Eater’s trachea. What were your inspiration for this role?
Ralph Ineson: There are so many different paths to explore. The MCU is full of hypotheses, territories, and characters you can draw from. I thought a lot about Kurtz, the character played by Marlon Brando in Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now. He’s a somewhat mystical, an almost divine figure, yet tired, jaded, and driven to madness. So, if there was a major influence from outside the MCU, it was probably that figure.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, directed by Matt Shakman, coming out on July 23rd, 2025.
