It’s been a chaotic kind of run in the lead-up to the theatrical release of The Eternals for Marvel Studios. The film was set for a fall 2020 debut, the pandemic hit, things got moved around, and we spent a lot of time wondering how the ramp-up would go as Marvel still had a lot of things in production. It’s lead to 2021 having four Marvel films coming out including the Sony/Marvel Spider-Man film.
With the film set for a November 5th, 2021 debut, Marvel is making sure to get more promotion out there for it. While they’ve released all their planned trailers for it, the TV spots are starting to hit a bit more as we get beyond Shang-Chi and now this new one introduces some new footage to the mix. We also have a new and extended synopsis for the film, which is a welcome update from the meager bit we had before.
Directed by Chloe Zhao, the film is set to star Angelina Jolie as Thena, Richard Madden as Ikaris, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, Lauren Ridloff as Makkari, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos, Salma Hayek as Ajak, Lia McHugh as Sprite, Don Lee as Gilgamesh, Barry Keoghan as Druig, Gemma Chan as Sersi, and Kit Harington as Dane Whitman.
“When you love something, you fight for it.” Experience Marvel Studios’ #Eternals only in theaters November 5. pic.twitter.com/h3YPgKaJDW
— Eternals (@TheEternals) October 3, 2021
The comics were produced originally in the 1970s by Jack Kirby with some really neat designs and ideas behind it but they’ve never been heavily used in the comics continuity overall. We’ve had some references to them in brief in the cinematic side though so it makes sense to try and explore more of that.
The studio recently brought on some writers to put it into more formal development to see what can happen with Matthew and Ryan Firpo, who got some notice last year for the spec script Ruin that was quite well regarded on the 2017 Black List.
The film has Chloe Zhao directing it. Her most recent work was The Rider which like most of her projects sees her as the writer and director along with producing credits as well, though the majority of her works are short films. Check out the 2015 film Songs My Brothers Taught Me and the 2017 film The Rider.
There’s been a bit more of an embrace on the cinematic side for some of the more “outlandish” elements that made up a good chunk of what Kirby really worked on over the years, notably in Thor: Ragnarok, so it’s exciting to think more of his material will be coming out – and reinforcing the cosmic side that the next ten years looks to embrace.
Property Concept: The story takes place across two time periods. One storyline is set in the past when they operated as a formidable team and a close family unit. The second storyline is in the present, when the group has fractured and split apart, content to live among humans, hiding in plain sight. The prevailing threat of the Deviants, which once again threatens the existence of mankind, means the Eternals need to put their differences aside and regroup.
Previous teasers and material:
The cast of Marvel Studios’ “The Eternals” takes the stage at #D23Expo. pic.twitter.com/1mvOxXJ8Dm
— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) August 24, 2019
