Summary
Marvel StudiosThe Eternalswas meant to serve as the introduction to a brand-new franchise of heroes. Unfortunately, though, the film struggled at the box office when it hit theaters in 2021, and little has become of the film since its debut. That is set to change withCaptain America: Brave New Worldin February, which will re-introduce the Celestial Tiamut, but that appears to be the only appearance of a character from that film.
As of now, Marvel Studios has no plans to make a sequel to the movie. However, that could change down the line, as nothing is ever entirely set in stone. If a sequel doesn’t come to fruition, though, Marvel Studios should at least make use of some of the characters, even if only as secondary characters in other stories. One character fromThe Eternals, in particular, that the Marvel Cinematic Universe should make use of is the speedster, Makkari.
The Future of the Eternals Looks Grim
Following COVID-19, the box office has struggled to rebound, even with big superhero films that have tried to recapture the box office magic pre-pandemic. Unfortunately,The Eternalsfell casualty to the box office hiccup, only earning $402 million at the worldwide box office. Even worse, the film was poorly received among critics, securing arotten score of 47% on Rotten Tomatoes. With an up & coming director on board in Chloé Zhao, a cast of talented actors and an excellent use of practical sets,The Eternalsseemed like an exciting new installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that would impact our heroes moving forward. Sadly, the film seems to have been forgotten for the most part, withnone of the storylines being talked aboutin Marvel projects since. The studio is finally set to change that, with the decision to usethe Celestial Tiamutto introduce adamantium into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the post credit scene having teasedKit Harrington’s rise as Black Knight, and the film having introducedHarry Styles as Starfox, it’s strange that these characters have yet to be revisited. More importantly, it’s strange that none of the Eternals have been brought back into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
While it’s understandable Marvel Studiosisn’t keen on advancing with future installmentsof the franchise given its reception, the decision to simply avoid using the heroes is a strange one. If there isn’t going to be a sequel, the least the studio can do is find a way to re-introduce the heroes in future installments. After all, the heroes all offer unique powersets, especially Makkari, whose speed was wonderfully captured in the film. With Quicksilver having been killed off inAvengers: Age of Ultron, Makkari deserves a chance to shine more as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s main speedster.
The Characters Deserve More, Especially Makkari
One thingThe Eternalsdid perfectly was cast its team of heroes. From Gemma Chan to Richard Madden, and even Angelina Jolie,The Eternalssuccessfully crafted a team of powerful heroes led by a cast of some of the most talented names in Hollywood. The Eternals are a powerful group of heroes that clearly don’t need the help of the Avengers to protect the Earth, sowhy are they being sidelinedfollowing a poor box office return? While some of the heroes are truly overpowered, such as Ikaris, others like Makkari, and even Kingo, are powerful enough that bringing them back in other films wouldn’t necessarily overpower other heroes. More importantly, with Marvel Studios having shown an interest in highlighting diversity, Makkari seems like the perfect character to make more use of. Not only is the character, and the actress who plays her (Lauren Ridloff), deaf, but she’s also a speedster who can be compared to DC Comics' The Flash with her abilities. She was one of the biggest standouts fromThe Eternals, from the unique way her powers were showcased, to her chemistry with her teammates on screen, Ridloff deserves more time to shine as the superhero - especially if a sequel isn’t happening anytime soon.
It is important to note that 2021 was a bad year for Marvel Studios in general.The Eternalsactually out-earnedBlack Widow, another film that suffered post-COVID, andShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ringsonly marginally did better with $432. That film, of course, will understandably bereceiving a sequel, so perhaps there is still hope forEternalsdown the line. However, until then, Marvel Studios needs to find a way to make use of its heroes rather than sidelining them when things don’t go as planned.
