Fantastic Four Art Reveals Golden Surfer Almost Came to MCU

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It might come as a surprise to Marvel fans, but the upcoming Fantastic Four movie considered a major change to the Silver Surfer’s appearance – making him golden instead of silver. Newly revealed concept art from “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” also shows early ideas for a very different look for the character Shalla-Bal.

Marvel’s Fantastic Four movie almost changed Silver Surfer to golden

Recent concept art for Marvel’s upcoming Fantastic Four movie shows that the studio considered a very different look for the Silver Surfer. They briefly experimented with making Shalla-Bal appear golden in color.

Recently shared artwork from The Artbook Collector reveals some initial design ideas for the Silver Surfer, exploring a potential change to his iconic appearance. These early concepts drew inspiration from Frankie Raye, a character from Marvel Comics also known as Nova. According to a post on X (formerly Twitter) by The Artbook Collector, artist Jana Schirmer considered giving the Silver Surfer a golden color scheme for the comic The Fantastic Four: First Steps!

According to artwork created for the movie, concept illustrator Jana Schirmer explored how the Silver Surfer’s powers might change his physical look. She suggested that his body could appear to undergo a process similar to oxidation.

She suggested the character might turn gold, or change colors like motorcycle exhaust pipes when heated, thinking it would be a visually interesting effect. Schirmer also considered different hairstyles and energy trails, taking inspiration from the character Frankie Raye, according to Comic Book Movie.

Frankie Raye started as a girlfriend to Johnny Storm in Marvel comics, but later gained powers similar to the Human Torch. She ultimately decided to work for Galactus and, while doing so, met and began a relationship with the Silver Surfer.

When Marvel announced a female Silver Surfer, fans had a varied initial reaction. However, the character Shalla-Bal was ultimately well-received. Currently, Marvel Studios hasn’t announced when Shalla-Bal or Galactus will return in future Marvel Cinematic Universe films.

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2025-12-03 15:46