Julia Garner embarked on her cinematic journey at the tender age of 17, stealing the spotlight alongside Elizabeth Olsen in Sean Durkin's mesmerizing film, "Martha Marcy May Marlene." However, it was her versatile performances on television that ultimately catapulted her to fame, with roles in acclaimed series such as "Ozark," "The Americans," "Dirty John," "Waco," and the compelling "Inventing Anna." Among these, her portrayal of Ruth Langmore, opposite Jason Bateman and Laura Linney in the Netflix sensation "Ozark," stands out as the role that irrevocably altered the trajectory of her career—a journey that has been rewarded with three prestigious Emmy Awards. As the 44-episode saga drew to a close in 2022, Garner's star continued to rise, booking a whirlwind summer filled with back-to-back cinematic triumphs.
At the pinnacle of her summer success stands "Weapons," a film that exceeded all expectations by debuting at the top of the box office with an impressive $42.5 million opening weekend, thanks to the directorial prowess of Zach Cregger, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and New Line. This critical and commercial smash hit followed closely on the heels of another summer release, "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," from Disney and Marvel Studios. An intriguing sidenote: Garner's co-star and close friend Josh Brolin is also part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe lore, portraying the formidable Thanos in the Avengers franchise.
Remarkably, "Fantastic Four" secured the third spot at the box office that weekend, grossing $15.5 million domestically and amassing $240.3 million domestically and $434.2 million worldwide. This rare feat of having two films in the top three during the summer box office season underscores Garner's prowess. Nonetheless, "Fantastic Four" faced a box office slump, with a 66% drop in its second weekend and another 60% decline in its third, casting a shadow over its overall performance.
In "Weapons," Garner shines as a teacher who discovers that 17 out of 18 children in her classroom mysteriously vanished at 2:17 a.m., prompting a gripping narrative. Brolin portrays a grieving father determined to find his missing child, casting aspersions on the teacher's involvement. Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, and Amy Madigan round out the stellar cast. Meanwhile, in "Fantastic Four," Garner transforms into Shalla-Bal, alias Silver Surfer, the formidable herald of Galactus. Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Eban Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn star as the legendary quartet.
Earlier this year, Garner also delivered a stellar performance opposite Christopher Abbott in "Wolf Man." As for her future endeavors, the 31-year-old actress recently hinted that the Madonna biopic she is attached to is still "supposed to happen." While the world eagerly awaits this project, Netflix has greenlit "The Altruists," a series delving into the rise and fall of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX. Here, Garner will embody Caroline Ellison, opposite Anthony Boyle's portrayal of Sam Bankman-Fried.
During a recent appearance on "Watch What Happens Live," Andy Cohen inquired if Garner would be interested in reprising her role as Shalla-Bal or taking on another character in the MCU. With a cryptic smile, she replied, "I can't say much because it's Marvel, so I have to keep things under wraps. But I would love to play Shalla-Bal again."
