Eternals – Chloé Zhao’s (born as Zhao Ting) first collaboration with Marvel Studios. She’s a well-known Chinese-born filmmaker for her work in independent films. Also, her Nomadland (2020 film) was a huge success that attracted international recognition and won many awards; Zhao, who had four Academy Award (Oscars) nominations for the film, won both Best Picture and Best Director, becoming the second woman in history to do so after Kathryn Bigelow in 2010 and the first woman of color to do so.
Eternals, to be the 26th film in the MCU, the hype is overwhelming. Similar to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals will be a part of MCU’s Phase Four. This film’s going to bring a large gathering of Marvel Comics superheroes. The creation of them happened in the 1970s by legendary comic book writer and artist Jack Kirby. With an Oscar-winning director and galvanic cast, this film will be a worthy addition to Phase Four of MCU.
…..few predictions for Eternals
Before going further in this section, if you haven’t seen the trailer yet, now is definitely the perfect time! Sit back, relax, grab some chips and enjoy!
Who are the Eternals, and how did they originate?
After thousands of years in seclusion, the Eternals, an immortal alien species, emerges to safeguard Earth from its evil counterparts. These evil counterparts are called Deviants. Deviants (terminology given by the Eternals), a.k.a., the Changing People, are a fictitious species of humanoids. The reason behind their sudden arrival is to regroup and safeguard humanity from the wrath of the Deviants. The Deviants appear due to the return of half of the populace in Avengers: Endgame (2019).
Celestials lie behind the creation of the Eternals, who are secretly living on the Earth for over 7000 years. During their existence, their orders were unequivocal: do not meddle with any Earthly affairs where the Deviants do not have any role to play. The film trailer itself also has a reference to this. Coming back to Celestials, they are an ancient race of entities; possessing immense matter and energy manipulation abilities. They existed long before the formation of galactic societies and even the Asgardians. However, their origin and nature remain a mystery.
The idea that the Eternals have been on Earth all along, as names like Ikaris, Gilgamesh, and Sersi suggest, will have far-reaching consequences for the MCU. If the film’s ending requires them to identify themselves to the superhero community, there is an expectation that they will be on call in the future. It’s also easy to envision anger arising from their refusal to assist in the Battle of New York or the invasion of Wakanda.
How does the finale of this film foreshadow their future in the MCU?
After their Marvel Comics narrative arc ended, the characters were free to do anything they wanted (for the most part). While many of the Eternals stayed together at their headquarters on Olympia, others spread out and shared adventures in the guise of various characters. In Marvel’s Quasar comic, the speedster Makkari became an ally to Wendall Vaughn, Gilgamesh became a supporting character in Hercules, and Sersi got visits from Captain America, who found her talents extremely helpful.
Depending on how the film ends, the protagonists in Eternals may find themselves in a similar predicament. So far, they’ve stayed out of the spotlight. Although there was so much at risk, they did not intervene to stop Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War or Avengers: Endgame. That’s likely due to the same reason that kept them out of the action in the early comics. However, whatever happens in the film between the Celestials and the Eternals may put them in a situation where they may come out of hiding and cease obeying their old laws.
If Marvel goes on this path, it will open up a slew of new options for them in the future. With Marvel introducing at least 10 of these super-powered immortals in a single film, future MCU episodes will have plenty of options. From these options, they can even choose to utilize one as a guest character. Marvel may include members of the group into any Phase 4 movie or Disney+ show set after Eternals. Similarly, as with the use of Doctor Strange in Thor: Ragnarok. Thor, for example, may have a run-in with Gilgamesh in Thor: Love and Thunder. As a strong warrior with strength comparable to Thor’s, the two might have some fascinating encounters in the MCU and possibly even share some history.
Some Eternals can also become a part of the Avengers!
Some of them could choose to become full-fledged superheroes. If that’s the case, these characters may be new additions to the Avengers lineup. Marvel would almost certainly want a varied roster for their Earth’s Mightiest Heroes squad; it’s tough to imagine more than two Eternals. In terms of determining who these new Avengers are, their personalities and comic book history might help. Sersi and Gilgamesh, comic book equivalents of two Eternals from the film, appear to be strong contenders. Because they are already in the ranks of the Avengers, their inclusion in the squad is a possibility. It’s due to the universalisms of the two characters diverge from the rest of their species.
Sersi loves interacting with people and having fun, and she could go on all kinds of adventures if she joins the Avengers. Gilgamesh, facing difficulties following the Eternals’ rule and was punished for helping out the humans several times. Due to this nature of his, his people treat him like an outsider and a loner. Standing up for humanity as an Avenger is in his essence.
Will there be any more introduction of Eternals members?
The Celestials produced Eternals throughout the galaxy – a revelation through the comics. If the same holds for the MCU, the film may pave the way for future Marvel films; to introduce Eternals from various parts of the world. Thor, Captain Marvel, and the Guardians of the Galaxy may encounter new Eternals in their respective films. In addition, cosmic superheroes such Thanos’ sibling, Starfox, might play a key role in Phase 5. Starfox is a classic Avenger and a member of the Titanian Eternals in Marvel Comics. Marvel may continue to develop the universe of the Eternals as the MCU progresses.
Release date of the film
The initial release date of the film was 6th November 2020. The pandemic situation led to its postponing, not once but twice. Previously it was shifted to February 12, 2021, and subsequently to November 2021. The film will hit the box offices on 5th November, this year. According to Disney, the film will have a minimum of forty-five days of exclusive theatre release.
