One thing Marvel Studios loves to do is drop a new trailer out of nowhere. It’s like Kevin Feige wakes up one morning and is all, “I think we should just drop the teaser trailer for Eternals today” — and that’s exactly what he did on this fine Monday morning.
Marking the third film in phase four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (the first being Black Widow hitting theaters July 9 and Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings on September 3), the Eternals is set to drop in theaters on November 5, with hopes that post-COVID life is thriving.
The timing of the movie’s release couldn’t be any more perfect as it will definitely get a boost of prestige as director Chloe Zhao is riding that wave of success after her historical Oscar wins. The footage we see in the new teaser trailer (many of which I saw about two years ago when Feige dropped footage at Brazil Comic-Con, yes that’s a brag) is absolutely stunning — but what exactly is Eternals about?
So here’s what the logline says: “The epic story, spanning thousands of years, features a group of immortal heroes forced out of the shadows to reunite against mankind’s oldest enemy, The Deviants. The outstanding ensemble cast includes Richard Madden as the all-powerful Ikaris, Gemma Chan as humankind-loving Sersi, Kumail Nanjiani as cosmic-powered Kingo, Lauren Ridloff as the super-fast Makkari, Brian Tyree Henry as the intelligent inventor Phastos, Salma Hayek as the wise and spiritual leader Ajak, Lia McHugh as the eternally young, old-soul Sprite, Don Lee as the powerful Gilgamesh, Barry Keoghan as aloof loner Druig, and Angelina Jolie as the fierce warrior Thena. Kit Harington plays Dane Whitman.” Hmm. So, what does that have to do with The Avengers?
I have no idea…but they hint at it in the trailer!
I never dove into the Eternals during my time as an avid comic book reader, so this will be a learning experience for me as well. However, as reported before, this could possibly be the most inclusive cast in the history of an MCU movie — or any comic book movie for that matter.
The MCU introduces its first queer superhero in Phastos as well as the first deaf hero Makkari — who was also gender swapped and is now Black. Kingo is Japanese in the comics, but in the film Nanjiani, who is South Asian, plays him. Hayek plays Ajak, who was also gender swapped for the movie. Lia McHugh’s Sprite is now a young woman instead of a man while Lee will step in for an Asian iteration of Gilgamesh.
Also, let’s not forget that Feige admitted that if there was a lead of the Eternals ensemble, it would be Chan’s Sersi — and Asian woman.
Check out the official poster below — which is soaked in Zhao’s magic hour goodness.
… and if you need a quick lesson on the characters from Eternals, this Twitter thread is very helpful.
-Kingo-
Is the Eternal with the power to project cosmic energy projectiles with his hands. Over the centuries, he has become enamored with the idea of fame. In present day, he’s a famous Bollywood star. pic.twitter.com/aom5RWfTaM
— Marvel Perfect Shots (@marvel_shots) May 24, 2021
-Makkari-
Makkari is the fastest woman in the universe. She uses her cosmically powered super-speed to scout planets for the Eternals, and as the only deaf Eternal, the sonic boom that accompanies her cosmic running does not affect her. pic.twitter.com/HzR380gNXI
— Marvel Perfect Shots (@marvel_shots) May 24, 2021
-Gilgamesh-
He’s the strongest and kindest member of the team. Capable of projecting a powerful exoskeleton of cosmic energy, Gilgamesh is a fierce warrior who has become legendary for his fights with Deviants throughout history pic.twitter.com/ajMaC8wMam
— Marvel Perfect Shots (@marvel_shots) May 24, 2021
-Thena-
Thena, a fierce warrior more comfortable in battle than any other place, she has the ability to use cosmic energy to form any handheld weapon she can think of. Often surly and aloof, she forges an unlikely friendship with Gilgamesh that spans centuries. pic.twitter.com/mFQXjMJGdA
— Marvel Perfect Shots (@marvel_shots) May 24, 2021
-Ikaris-
Ikaris is the tactical leader and most powerful Eternal and takes pride in keeping the other Eternals safe. Moral, kind and charismatic, Ikaris boasts the power of incredible strength, flight and the ability to project beams of intense cosmic energy from his eyes. pic.twitter.com/Gzwqf9seA7
— Marvel Perfect Shots (@marvel_shots) May 24, 2021
-Ajak-
Ajak is the spiritual leader of the Eternals. Her wisdom has helped guide the team since they arrived here from their home planet to help defend humanity. Ajak can not only heal humans and Eternals alike, but she is able to communicate with the Celestials as well. pic.twitter.com/yFhg9aevvC
— Marvel Perfect Shots (@marvel_shots) May 24, 2021
-Sersi-
Sersi is the Eternal with an affinity for humanity. Sersi has the ability to manipulate matter, changing the makeup of any non-sentient material she touches. She’s also been in love with Ikaris for centuries. pic.twitter.com/4obhb28Pyk
— Marvel Perfect Shots (@marvel_shots) May 24, 2021
-Sprite-
Sprite has the ability to cast lifelike illusions. Her friendship with Sersi hides a world-weary sadness because she’s been treated like a child by humanity for centuries. But Sprite is much stronger and cleverer than she appears. pic.twitter.com/W75ZfSaXn8
— Marvel Perfect Shots (@marvel_shots) May 24, 2021
-Phastos-
Phastos is blessed with the power of invention. He is able to create whatever he can imagine provided that he has enough raw materials at his disposal. Over the centuries, he has helped nudge humanity forward technologically while always keeping his brilliance hidden. pic.twitter.com/yUGNbxdDRq
— Marvel Perfect Shots (@marvel_shots) May 24, 2021
-Druig-
Druig can use cosmic energy to control the minds of men. Druig has become withdrawn from the other Eternals because he disagrees with how they’ve interacted with mankind over the centuries. pic.twitter.com/MDXjT2r4q4
— Marvel Perfect Shots (@marvel_shots) May 24, 2021
BONUS – SPOILER
-Dane Whitman- (Black Knight)
In the comics Dane Whitman is a human who wield the Ebony Blade, a cursed weapon. pic.twitter.com/BsAOt6B0aD
— Marvel Perfect Shots (@marvel_shots) May 24, 2021
