Following the conclusion of the Infinity Saga withAvengers: Endgame, the MCU’s next big focus has been on the multiverse and expanding its cinematic universe in cosmic ways. WhileEternalsfocused on a new group of heroes and didn’t seem to add to the main storyline playing out in other projects, it appears the film will have an immense impact on the MCU’s future.
Eternalsfollows an immortal alien race that was created by the Celestials and has been living secretly on Earth for thousands of years. They finally have to reunite to stop their evil counterparts known as the Deviants. While divisive amongst many critics and fans,Eternalswas praised for its ambitious filmmakingstyle, its challenging themes involving humanity and morality, and its exploration of otherworldly characters.
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While the film ultimately felt like a letdown (especially for Marvel Studios standards), that doesn’t meanEternalswill not have a greater impact on what’s coming in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the latest episode ofMarvel Studios: Assembled, director Chloé Zhao, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, and executive producer Nate Moore addressed howEternals’ambitions will no doubt impact future MCUstories. “By the end of this film, how we look at the MCU and the Earth itself will change,” Moore shared towards the beginning of the documentary.
Zhao would go on to contribute her thoughts, adding, “This film is going to have a big effect on the future of the MCU to a point where it makes me geek out so much as a fan, that I was able to make a film that could ripple through the MCU like this.” Zhao would then add her appreciation for Feige and Moore granting her as much creative freedom as possible in order to tell her vision for the story. “I feel like, for me, throughout the journey, Kevin, Nate, and the whole team, they catch me when I fall,” Zhao said. “When I’m spreading my wings and going crazy, they’re letting me loose. I learned so much from them. I’m just so grateful they gave me this opportunity to not only pay tribute and respect of the past of the MCU, but also extend the MCU into the future. And that, for me, is an honor.”
As for Feige, he believes thatEternalsis the film that really pushes the MCU’s boundaries. “The impact theEternalswill have on the MCU will be nothing less than redefining the Cinematic Universe entirely,” he said. Gathering all of their comments, there’s no denying thatEternalsdoes change a lot in the MCU. From learning about their existence long before Captain America (who was seen as the first hero/Avenger), delving deeper into the impact of Thanos' snap, and how that’s sets up the emergence of a celestial, to the introduction ofHarry Styles as Eros, Thanos' brother (which could lead to more stories about the Mad Titan and the threats otherworldly beings pose to Earth), there’s a lotEternalssets up.
While the focus is now onDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness(the upcoming film that will have lasting implications on the MCU and one that could involve the Eternals and the Celestials),Eternals 2may not be too far away, as there have been many hints that Kevin Feige and the rest of the Marvel Studios team have already begun developing a sequel. Whether it was Gemma Chan’s comments about Sersi returning orDon Lee reportedly gearing upfor some sort of Marvel Studios production set to begin this summer, it’s all very likely that the group of immortal aliens will return to the big screen some time within the next few years.
EternalsandMarvel Studios: Assembledare both available to stream on Disney Plus.
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