Marvel producer says ‘Eternals’ sequel not a ‘must-have’
A Marvel producer believes that the upcoming superhero tentpole Eternals doesn't necessarily need a sequel.
In an interview with The Toronto Sun, Marvel producer Nate Moore explained that although there are ideas for potential sequels, a second or third movie installment—unlike previous Marvel Cinematic Universe films—are not certain for Eternals as the upcoming MCU blockbuster is meant to stand on its own.
“It’s not something that is a must-have," Moore said. "Obviously, we have ideas of where we could go, but there isn’t a hard and fast rule where we have to have three of these things and this is the first."
Moore, whose previous credits include Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther, and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, explained further: “If you just watch Eternals, you can enjoy Eternals, you can understand Eternals and you’re good to go.”
“We felt like there was enough story that it could be a contained universe,” Moore added. “We definitely have ideas of how things can cross over later. But this movie with 10 characters and Dane Whitman and the Celestials and the Deviants, there was enough for us to play with.”
Although an Eternals sequel is not guaranteed (at least, for now), Moore shared what the future holds for Kit Harrington’s character, who becomes the Black Knight in the comics.
Even though fans won’t be able to see Harrington suit up in the upcoming movie, the long-time Marvel producer hinted that Harrington’s Dane Whitman could play a part in the upcoming MCU films.
“He’s not going to be Black Knight necessarily, but that is something that we get to play with down the road,” Moore said.
In an interview with Total Film, Harrington previously expressed his desire to play a bigger role in the MCU and explained that he had to read about who his character could be, or might be since he has "no idea" whether Whitman goes or not.
"So there’s the possibility for a longer trajectory," Harrington said. "And hopefully, I think this is the tip of the iceberg for my character. I hope. But I just don’t know, you know? I’m as in the dark as anyone else. And I try not to live too far ahead in the future with anything. Even when I was in Game of Thrones, even on the sixth season, I presumed the seventh season wasn’t going to happen!”
Eternals, touted as the biggest Marvel film to date, is part of the studio’s Phase Four movie slate, which includes Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Marvels, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Fantastic Four, and Blade.
Directed by Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao, Eternals features a new group of superheroes who have secretly lived on Earth for thousands of years. However, the near-immortal beings decide to break their vow to not interfere with any human conflict following the Deviants' presence on Earth.
Marvel's Eternals features a star-studded cast which includes Gemma Chan (Sersi), Harrington (Dane Whitman), Lia McHugh (Sprite), Don Lee (Giigamesh), Angelina Jolie (Thena), Salma Hayek (Ajak), Richard Madden (Ikaris), Kumail Nanjiani (Kingo), Lauren Ridloff (Makkari), Brian Tyree Henry (Phastos), and Barry Keoghan (Druig).
Eternals is slated to premiere in theaters on Nov. 5, 2021.
