Shalla-Bol as the Silver Surfer

[Clertar]

I think jumping straight to the Silver Surfer in the first movie, irregardless of the surfer in question is a terrible move. That's the kind of character you hold off on until they're fully established and you really need to challenge them.

Holding off doesn't work anymore. It did in the pre-MCU era, but already by the early MCU films it didn't really, and especially now it doesn't connect with audiences, who want a full-fledged story rather than a tease. Today you don't want to see Iron Man fighting Jeff Bridges in a clunky armor to work up to something bigger later, you want to see the hero(s) go up against a very real, unsurmountable challenge on the first outing.