Marvel Studios has been a leader in the movie industry for decades, producing blockbusters like Black Panther and Avengers: Endgame. But what will happen to these heroes after Phase 4?
Marvel’s Phase 4 movie is a mystery. There are many rumors and speculations, but not much is known about the movies.
Marvel’s Eternals has been anticipated by fans since its announcement in 2018, and the wait is nearly over. Eternals, which has been delayed by a year, will bring Jack Kirby’s eternal humanoids into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in November. Eternals, which stars an all-star ensemble, aims to recapture the excitement of Guardians of the Galaxy and pave the way for future superhero team-up films without the buildup or solo films that have come before them (like the Fantastic Four and X-Men reboot). Eternals, directed by Oscar winner Chloé Zhao, will undoubtedly be one of Marvel’s finest films. In May, the official poster and first video for Eternals were published, with the first 24 hours alone seeing 77 million views. Another trailer will be released shortly, probably in conjunction with the September premiere of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Eternals are a species of genetically modified humanoids created by the all-powerful Celestials to protect the Earth, first appearing in 1976. The Eternals and DC’s more well-known New Gods, both created by Jack Kirby, have a lot in common. Even among die-hard Marvel fans, the Eternals aren’t very popular, thus the gender and racial swaps haven’t caused a stir. Because of the lower popularity, the creators may be more creative with the mainly older original material and adapt it for a more contemporary audience. The film will also introduce the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first handicapped and LGBTQ superheroes. Neil Gaiman, author of Good Omens and The Sandman, collaborated with illustrator John Romita Jr. on an Eternals miniseries in 2006. Gaiman’s writing impacted the modernization of the Eternals, and the forthcoming film will undoubtedly be affected by his work as well. We would have had Eternals and a few other Hollywood big-budget projects by now if it hadn’t been for the worldwide health problem. But, as the saying goes, it’s better to be late than never. Here’s everything we know thus far about Marvel’s Eternals.
RELATED: Gemma Chan Discusses Her Role in Marvel’s Eternals as a Different MCU Character
Eternals is directed by Chloé Zhao.
In 2018, Oscar winner Chloé Zhao was tapped to helm the film. She was also a strong contender for the director’s chair for Marvel’s Black Widow. Zhao, a longtime lover of fantasy films and manga, has promised a fascinating picture that blends Kirby’s quirkiness with her own distinct vision. “It was an incredible amazing proposal that Chloé put together,” producer Kevin Feige said of Zhao’s presentation, “about a very daring and extremely ambitious sweeping 7000-year narrative of mankind and our position in the universe.” Zhao has praised Marvel for allowing her to create Eternals in her own unique style.
“Working with the Marvel team has been nothing short of amazing. Even while I want people to know they supported what I wanted to accomplish, I want to be cautious when I express “my vision.” That is something I want everyone to be aware of. But I also want them to know that I have the backing of this extremely brilliant team, which includes some of the world’s most gifted artists. And it takes a community to create this movie, yet they let me take the lead. Yes.”
The cast of Eternals is impressive.
The Eternals cast is comparable to that of an Avengers film, with almost a dozen Hollywood A-listers. The film’s star-studded cast is listed below.
- Sersi, an Eternal with the power to control matter, is Gemma Chan. In the present, she disguises herself as a museum curator. Sersi is the main character, according to producer Kevin Feige, and her connection with Ikaris and Dane Whitman (Richard Madden and Kit Harington’s characters) will be a key narrative element in the movie. Chan previously appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel.
- Richard Madden is Ikaris, the Eternals’ tactical commander who can fly and shoot cosmic energy beams from his eyes. He has superhuman strength as well. Along with Chan, the Game of Thrones actor is the co-lead.
- Angelina Jolie plays Thena, a strong warrior who can use cosmic energy to create any weapon. Over the years, she and Gilgamesh have developed a strong relationship.
- Kit Harington plays Dane Whitman, a descendent of Sir Percy, the first Black Knight. Whitman is a human who transforms into the Black Knight and wields the Ebony Blade, a powerful magical blade.
- Kingo is played by Kumail Nanjiani, an Eternal with the ability to fire cosmic energy missiles from his hands. Kingo is a renowned Bollywood celebrity in the film, unlike in the comics, when he was a Japanese cinema star. For the part, Nanjiani was completely shredded, and he based his acting and appearance on Bruce Willis’ John McClane and Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan.
- Salma Hayek portrays Ajak, the Eternals’ spiritual leader and healer. Ajak has the ability to converse with the Celestials as well. Hayek has compared her to the Eternals’ mother.
- Brian Tyree Henry portrays Phastos, an Eternal and a cosmic-powered innovator who covertly aids humanity’s scientific advancement. He is the first superhero in the MCU to be portrayed as homosexual.
- Barry Keoghan is Druig, an Eternal and cousin of Ikaris who can control people’s minds via cosmic energy. He doesn’t agree with the Eternals’ human relationships. In the film, he is said to be a cult leader.
- Gilgamesh is Don Lee, the strongest Eternal capable of projecting a cosmic energy exoskeleton. In their exile from the other Eternals, he and Thena will become lovers.
- Sprite, an Eternal who can create illusions, is Lia McHugh. She has the appearance of a 12-year-old kid, yet she is more stronger and older than she seems.
- Lauren Ridloff is Makkari, a cosmically fueled Eternal with super-speed. Ridloff portrays the first deaf superhero in a Marvel Cinematic Universe film. Makkari is also the quickest character in the Marvel world.
- Ajak, Makkari, and Sprite are female equivalents of their male counterparts from the comic books. Haaz Sleiman will portray Phastos’ spouse and Ozer Ercan will play a smuggler. In unspecified roles, Harish Patel, Gil Birmingham, Jashaun St. John, and Zain Al Rafeea have been cast.
In the film, Zhao has pushed for diversity, stating…
“I wanted it to be a reflection of the reality in which we live. But I also wanted to assemble an ensemble that seemed like a ragtag bunch of misfits. I was not interested in the jocks. I don’t want you to leave the theater thinking, ‘This person is this race,’ or ‘This person is that nationality.’ No. ‘That’s a family,’ I want you to think when you leave. You don’t consider what they stand for.”
As of yet, no characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe will feature in the film. Thanos inventor Jim Starlin previewed the arrival of the crazy giant, as well as another of his inventions, in the film. However, nothing has been verified, so take that with a grain of salt. Eternals will expose viewers to a whole new universe and cast of characters.
What is the story behind Eternals?
Along with the teaser and poster, Marvel published the official storyline description.
“The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Eternals introduces an intriguing new band of Super Heroes, ancient aliens who have been living on Earth in secret for hundreds of years. Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, an unforeseen tragedy compels them to emerge from the shadows to face humanity’s oldest foe, The Deviants.”
Other narrative information, apart from the aforementioned description, have remained sparse. The storyline of Eternals is being kept a closely guarded secret by Marvel. The performers, filmmakers, and even Feige himself have been reticent to provide any crucial plot details. The official trailer was supposed to disclose more about the mystery creatures, but it didn’t. The Eternals sat through many wars, catastrophes, alien invasions, and even Thanos’ snap without intervening, according to the trailer’s sole significant information. It’s unclear why these strong creatures would disregard all of this. There’s a reason, according to Walt Disney Studios’ director of marketing Asad Ayaz, why the Eternals teaser was short on narrative information. Here’s what he had to say to THR:
“If you saw the Eternals trailer, you’ll notice that it didn’t reveal anything. It’s only a taste of the characters and tone to come. It was a tease from the start. We still have a lot of work to do on that. We’ll be cautious since we have other films and programs to see before Eternals. And Eternals is such a unique film with all-new characters, and we’ve already seen two Marvel films.” “We’re making sure that the way fans experience them (Marvel’s future films) is distinct and exceptional, and that it doesn’t seem like you’re being smacked by all these various Marvel properties at the same time,” he added.
What have the Eternals been up to this point?
Everyone who watched the trailer had this question. Since their arrival on Earth 7000 years ago, the Eternals have been living among humans in different disguises. The trailer showed ancient battles, with a few Eternals attempting to assist. Why did they come to a halt? Have they lost hope in humanity? Why did they exist with humans for so long without assisting them? Have they ever faced up against other alien threats? What could possible entice them out at this point? All of these questions will undoubtedly be answered in the forthcoming film. Fans were not amused to see the Eternals sitting around and chatting about Captain America at the dinner table after the extremely sad deaths of cherished characters in the Infinity storyline. Zhao and his crew had better come up with a solid explanation for the Eternals’ absence in the film. Let’s hope it’s not amnesia, as it was in Gaiman’s comic run, when Sprite caused the Eternals to lose their memories. Some fans have speculated that they disappeared when Thanos snapped his fingers. Hopefully, the movie will provide a better, more original reason for the Eternals’ non-interference.
In Eternals, the Deviants may not be the only antagonists.
The Deviant Kro is an adversary in the film, according to the movie’s merchandising. Kro is a violent warlord and the leader of the Deviants, known for his shapeshifting powers. One of the Eternals will be the villain, according to a popular idea based on an unverified source. Kro might have taken the shape of an Eternal or something else entirely. However, if Kro appears in the film, shapeshifting will be a factor. The arrival of Druig was another subtle element from the teaser that many fans overlooked. “Throughout the years, we have never interfered, until now,” Hayek adds in the trailer’s voiceover. When Hayek says, “till now,” Barry Keoghan comes onscreen. Druig arrives in a forest, the Eternals appear in a forest, and there is a blink and miss scene of individuals with blank eyes aiming weapons in a forest in the first look video. That couldn’t be a coincidence, can it? As far-fetched as it may seem, these trailers take a long time to create and always contain Easter eggs or other allusions, and Marvel is renowned for this kind of clever foreshadowing. Druig has also been shown as an adversary in the comics. He may be the catalyst for the Eternals to emerge from concealment. In the comics, Black Knight has also appeared as a villain, although not in Harington’s version, Dane Whitman. Even if he were, he lacks the capacity to pose such a serious danger that all of the Eternals would have to emerge from concealment to oppose him. Marvel is either concealing a Luke Skywalker-level twist in The Mandalorian, or the villain is someone we’ve seen before. Other possibilities exist, but they are improbable.
Where did Eternals take place?
The debut teaser for Eternals, which has stunning locales and captivating cinematography, showed that Marvel wasn’t joking when they claimed Chloé Zhao would have complete creative control over the picture. Zhao’s excellent flair for aesthetics was on display in the teaser, which featured stunning wide views against a sun-lit backdrop. Eternals was filmed on location in London and Oxford, England, as well as the Canary Islands. The remainder of the movie was shot at Buckinghamshire’s Pinewood Studios. Zhao insisted on shooting on site, according to Kevin Feige of Marvel Studios.
“What she was talking about was battling for actual settings and components – sure, in a film full of visual effects and people with superhuman abilities, but doing as much as possible on far-flung locales. And you may see the results very instantly.” He said, “I recall putting together a little sample reel to present Disney executives. And it was so gorgeous that I kept telling myself, ‘This is straight out of a camera; there’s no VFX work here!’ Because it was a stunning sunset, with wonderful waves and mist rising from the beach on this massive cliffside – really breathtaking.”
Fans were outraged by Kevin Feige’s remarks. He was chastised for exaggerating the importance of realistic effects and genuine settings. As though that method to filming has never been done before. The “Martin Scorsese’s Marvel is not cinema” debate centered on Marvel’s over-reliance on CGI and their formulaic approach to filmmaking. Still, it’s refreshing to see Marvel attempt something different. And, based on the teaser, Zhao seems to have put his $200 million budget to good use, since Eternals looks absolutely beautiful.
When will Eternals be released?
Eternals, the third film in Marvel’s Phase 4 slate, will be released in cinemas worldwide on November 5, 2021. The film was scheduled to be released in November 2020, however it was postponed due to the epidemic. The only Marvel films set to debut in 2020 were Black Widow and Eternals, but both were pushed back a year, with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings coming in between. A safe choice, since many nations’ cinemas are still closed, and with Black Widow coming out two years after Marvel’s previous theatrical release, Spider-Man: Far From Home, the studio wants to play it safe and assess the public’s enthusiasm first. There’s a possibility Eternals would have failed if it had been published sooner. Eternals was a huge risk for Marvel, with an all-new ensemble portraying characters most people haven’t heard of. It may have made sense in a pre-social distancing period, when Marvel was riding high on the popularity of Endgame, but a lot has happened since then, as we all know. Hopefully, Black Widow and Shang-Chi can assist the world’s most popular film series get back on track. Another positive indication for the film is that Fast & Furious 9 and A Quiet Place have revived the summer box office. Nonetheless, there are no plans for Disney-produced films to be released in cinemas and on Disney+ concurrently beyond July. Jungle Cruise, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, will be the final to do so. Make plans to see Eternals in November at a theater near you for a genuine cinematic experience.
What other people were engaged in the making of Eternals?
The script was written by newcomers Ryan and Matthew K. Firpo in 2018, and it centers on Ikaris and Sersi’s love story. Zhao contributed significantly to the writing during shooting, earning Firpos a narrative credit and Zhao a screenplay credit with Patrick Burleigh. Ben Davis, a veteran Marvel cinematographer who has previously worked on Doctor Strange, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Captain Marvel, is in charge of cinematography. The background music will be composed by Ramin Djawadi (Game of Thrones, Iron Man). Djawadi is a brilliant composer who has written music for films and television series such as Westworld, Pacific Rim, and Iron Man. He is most recognized for his work on Game of Thrones. Fans may anticipate an amazing soundtrack for Eternals with him as the music director. The editors are Dylan Tichenor (Zero Dark Thirty) and Craig Wood (Guardians of the Galaxy). She praised the editors, calling them “amazing,” and seeing the whole experience as a learning opportunity.
After Eternals, what’s next?
After winning an Academy Award and directing a Marvel picture, Chloé Zhao is on her way to becoming a household figure. With the Bass Reeves biography and Universal’s Dracula film, she already has a lot on her plate for the next several years. Marvel’s initial timetable has been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and at least 4,5 movies and numerous Disney+ programs will be released each year from now on. A direct successor to Eternals will have to wait until at least 2024, due to numerous projects in the works. There’s a possibility that the Eternals may team up with other characters now that Fox’s franchises have been incorporated into the MCU. Sersi has worked with other Marvel characters, including Black Knight, who was formerly the commander of the Avengers. Because Harington is a well-known actor, he might appear alongside MCU characters that are beloved by fans. Following his ten-year run on Game of Thrones, Marvel would be wise to capitalize on the brilliant performer.
Eternals is a topic that has been discussed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Phase 4 Marvel movies?
There are no Phase 4 Marvel movies.
What do we know about Phase 4 MCU?
We know that the upcoming Avengers 4 will be the last MCU Phase of films, and we know that Disney has confirmed that there will be a Phase 5 after that.
Will Phase 4 have an Avengers movie?
Phase 4 will not have an Avengers movie.
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