The actor who first brought the Silver Surfer to life on the big screen is now weighing in on the character’s latest evolution. As Marvel’s reboot introduces Julia Garner in the cosmic role, the original performer is sharing warm praise, signaling a smooth handoff between generations of the iconic herald.
Doug Jones says Julia Garner did a ‘gorgeous job’ as Silver Surfer
Doug Jones, who brought the Silver Surfer to life physically in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, is fully on board with Julia Garner’s fresh take in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Looking back at his time in the role, Jones said in an interview that stepping into the Surfer’s shoes was “an honor”, noting how beloved and “angelic-like” the character has always been to fans.
He also shared that Marvel Studios invited cast members from earlier films to the reboot’s premiere, which made the night feel even more meaningful. According to Jones, the event created a “nice connection of old and new.” He even reunited with former co-star Ioan Gruffudd at the celebration.
Addressing Julia Garner’s turn in the role, Jones said he was very impressed, calling her performance “gorgeous.” He noted that her take isn’t based on the classic Silver Surfer version but instead draws on Shalla-Bal, an alternate character from Marvel Comics. Because of that, he pushed back on online claims, labeling them a gender swap and stressing that the interpretation actually has roots in the source material.
“I thought Julia Garner did such a gorgeous job. And it was nice, and it was interesting to see the female Silver Surfer based on Shalla-Bal, the character from the comic books,” the 65-year-old said.
Jones also gave Garner props for stepping into the spotlight, knowing that criticism was likely to come. “It was brave of her to step into that, knowing that fans were going to be like, ‘Wait a second.’ But she was great and did it with great poise and great courage,” Jones explained.
Doug Jones currently headlines Operation Taco Gary’s, which is set to hit theaters on February 27.
