The Silver Surfer is a cosmic mantle that has traditionally been associated with the male character Norrin Radd. However, in the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film "Fantastic Four: First Steps," the Silver Surfer is portrayed as a woman, Shalla-Bal, who is also a character from Marvel comics. This is not a simple gender swap but a resurrection of a lesser-known comic storyline where Shalla-Bal, the lover of Norrin Radd and empress of their home planet Zenn-La, becomes the Silver Surfer in an alternate universe or reality. The choice to make Silver Surfer a woman in this film expands the multiverse possibilities and adds depth to the character's story, differentiating it from the traditional male version. This creative decision aligns with the expansive multiverse concept in Marvel comics, where multiple characters can take on the same role and is not merely an act of "woke" gender-swapping but a legitimate canon extension with a female Silver Surfer existing in alternate realities.

Shalla-Bal gaining the powers of the Silver Surfer in Marvel lore thus provides a strong narrative foundation for the MCU's depiction, where she holds the mantle and powers of the Silver Surfer while being a distinct individual from Norrin Radd.