Movie Tea: Julia Garner Speaks Up About Silver Surfer Controversy; 'King Of The Hill' Revival To Stream On Hulu

Hype Malaysia

10 hours ago

Get your popcorn ready, because we've got the latest news on some of Hollywood's biggest upcoming projects.
From the revival of a beloved animated sitcom, to a decorated actor handling controversies with grace, here's what you need to know about two highly-awaited projects due to hit the big and small screens later this year.
Julia Garner Addresses Controversy Surrounding Her Depiction Of Silver Surfer
It goes without saying that July is easily one of the most anticipated months of the year when it comes to movies. As summer time kicks in in some portions of the world, studios are pulling out all the stops to get crowds in theatre halls, and 2025 is no exception. Earlier in the month alone, we saw the jaw-dropping reimagining of James Gunn's 'Superman'. Naturally, people are eager to see how Marvel's 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' will fare in response to the growing opposition.
Unfortunately, in this polarising world, people conjure all sorts of nitpicks to bash these incredible titles. One such example is the recent 'Superman' film where conservatives found it too woke, citing pro-immigration and pro-Hamas themes, among other things. Sadly, 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' has also come under fire weeks before its anticipated release because of Julia Garner's depiction of the Silver Surfer. Having had enough of it, the Herald of Galactus has stepped forward and started addressing the controversy directed at her.
In an interview with BBC, Garner was asked about the recent reaction to 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps'. At first they were positive, but as they progressed to more critical ones, Garner only said, 'The first one, I was like, I'm just still going to do my job, and also it's Shalla-Bal, so it's different. And then the second one you know, I was just happy that people are resonating with it just like any other project. So I'm just grateful to be at this dance, to be completely honest with you.'
Though 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' has been accused of gender-bending the iconic Zenn-Lavian, people forget that the MCU is creating its own canon away from the comics — and that a female Silver Surfer called Shalla-Bal already existed before in the comics. In our previous article covering Garner's debut as the chrome alien, the character can be traced all the way back to 1968, proving that her story has long been intertwined with that of the Fantastic Four and rendering all baseless hateful accusations irrelevant.
Furthermore, it has been confirmed that this version of Marvel's first family of superheroes will take place in an alternate universe. So, if people are still pissed about seeing Bal rather than Norrin Radd, Bal's husband and the original Silver Surfer, they might just get their wish just to appease them.
It is unfortunate that Garner has been the target of controversy simply because of her gender but it is nice to not only see her push back but also do so with such positivity! Though her role may only be limited to an alternate universe, we do hope that we get to see her duke it out in the main timeline as well in some capacity.
'King Of The Hill' Returns With Season 14
After 15 long years, the hit animated sitcom 'King of the Hill' is back! And to kick off its revival, the creator has dropped a brand new trailer to coincide with the announcement.
Set years after the star of the show, Hank Hill (played by Mike Judge), moved to Saudi Arabia to secure his and Peggy's (played by Kathy Najimy) retirement, the new season sees the return of the duo to Arlen to breathe in something familiar. Unfortunately for the couple, but more specifically Hank, things have changed in their absence, and they are now taking steps to get themselves reacquainted with the world around them. Add on to the fact that our favourite patriarch is now a senior citizen; things are about to get rough for him.
Naturally, some things never change, as Frank's old mates, such as Boomhauer (Mike Judge), Bill (Stephen Root), and Dale (Toby Huss, taking over after the late Johnny Hardwick's passing), are still in town! And much like Frank, they too feel out of place, kicking off a season of misadventures where they navigate this familiar yet strange place they call home. Pair this alongside Frank's son, Bobby (Pamela Adlon), who has adjusted well in Dallas; we're about to see some old folks trying their best to still stay hip and fashionable with the younger generation.
As it will touch on a lot of modern subject matter that we see in social media or in person, whether they be serious or otherwise, that might lead to the series receiving the revitalised love it deserves – or be the reason for its ultimate end. We must keep in mind that the world has changed more than ever since the show's cancellation; it is up to the show's creators to decide whether to address this with the same rigour and ferocity as in previous seasons or to play it safe and avoid it as much as possible. Regardless of its choice, we just hope it does so with the wholesome heart that we all know and love. We'll only find out when the series drops on 4th August on Hulu.
Source: The Verge, Screen Rant