Julia Garner, known for her role in Wolf Man, recently had a conversation with Entertainment Weekly, shedding light on her portrayal of the enigmatic Silver Surfer in the upcoming Fantastic Four: The First Steps.

Similar to many fans who have a casual understanding of the comics and previous Marvel and Fox films, Garner initially thought the Silver Surfer was a male character. However, she expressed her willingness to play any role, stating, “I was just like, ‘Okay, well, I’ll play anything.’”

Garner’s interest in the project was further piqued due to her admiration for Fantastic Four director Matt Shakman, whom she describes as a “very smart director.” During their meeting, Shakman explained that the film’s Silver Surfer is actually Shalla-Bal, which sparked Garner’s curiosity.

After reading the script, Garner gained a deeper understanding of this version of the Silver Surfer, though she couldn’t reveal too much. She hinted that the character’s mystery and ambiguous energy will be slowly unraveled throughout the film, stating, “It’s going to be really interesting … it was described as, there’s this mystery about her, and there’s this sense of this ambiguous energy going on of whether she’s good or not. She is the herald of Galactus, so she works for Galactus, but you’re not sure where she stands.”

Diving into the comic-book history of Shalla-Bal was essential for Garner, but she notes that the Marvel Studios version offers a fresh take on the character. “What makes this version different is that the movie is just different. First of all, I’m a woman, so that’s already different, and that hasn’t been told before. This Silver Surfer feels more mysterious in a way, even how it was written, than the other ones.”

Garner continued, choosing her words carefully: “All I can say is that she works for Galactus and that she’s mysterious, and the character will unfold more towards the end of the movie. That’s all I can say. I know it’s a very Marvel tease, but also it’s like a real tease. I haven’t seen the movie myself!”

Fantastic Four: The First Steps is set to release on July 25.

For more io9 news, check out the upcoming release dates for Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek, as well as the latest developments in the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.