The Eternals is a forthcoming superhero film based on the Marvel Comics. It will be produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures as always, it is expected to be the twenty-fifth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film will be directed by Chloé Zhao and the script is written by Matthew and Ryan Firpo.
In April 2018, Kevin Feige announced that the film "Eternals" had begun development, with Matthew and Ryan Firpo hired to write the script for the project. By late-September, Marvel had hired Zhao to direct this film. The main cast was recently announced at San Diego Comic-Con on July 2019. The Eternals is scheduled for release in the United States on November 6, 2020.
Plot Synopsis
This film will be set at the beginning of the universe, the Eternals, an immortal alien race created by the Celestials, are sent to Earth to protect humanity from their evil counterparts, the Deviants.
Cast
The Eternals has a huge cast which includes:
Angelina Jolie as Thena
Richard Madden as Ikaris: An Eternal "fueled by cosmic energy".
Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo
Lauren Ridloff as Makkari: An Eternal, who is deaf.
Brian Tyree Henry as Phaistos
Salma Hayek as Ajak: The leader of the Eternals.
Lia McHugh as Sprite
Don Lee as Gilgamesh
Barry Keoghan as Druig
Gemma Chan as Sersi: Chan previously portrayed Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel (2019).
Kit Harington as Dane Whitman
Development
In April 2018, Kevin Feige stated that the studio has started development of the film based on the Marvel comic book series Eternals, created by Jack Kirby, and will be released in their Phase Four slate of films. Marvel's main focus is on the character Sersi. Marvel hired Matthew and Ryan Firpo to write down the script. In June, Kevin Feige said Marvel was interested in exploring the "ancient aliens kind of sci-fi trope" of the Eternals which is the inspiration for myths and legends throughout the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In August, Marvel started searching for the director for The Eternals and finally hired Chloé Zhao, who will also direct Marvel's Black Widow. Marvel considered The Eternals to be a "perfect transition" into its next phase of films along with projects such as Captain Marvel, as it allowed the studio to cast a diverse group of actors to portray the various Eternals. Marvel choose this film in phase 4 as they wanted to create more crossover films like The Avengers and Guardians of Galaxy.
Pre-production
Angelina Jolie joined the cast on March 2019 with Kumail Nanjiani and Don Lee. The film is expected to feature Marvel Studios' first gay superhero. In May, Richard Madden entered negotiations for the role of Ikaris. In July, Variety reported that the cast included Jolie, Madden, and Millie Bobby Brown, but Brown shortly denied that she had been cast. Later that month at San Diego Comic-Con, Kevin Feige officially announced the film with a release date of November 6, 2020. He confirmed all the main cast of the film with their roles.
Filming
After the official announcement of the film on July 2019, principal photography had begun at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England. Chan previously portrayed Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel but was potentially being looked at by Marvel to play a separate character in this film. Chan and Keoghan were confirmed as Sersi and Druig, respectively, at the D23 Expo in August, along with the casting of Kit Harington as Dane Whitman.
