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Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is starting to take shape. While the details of the upcoming phase is heavily under wraps, we still know about a few titles arriving in the next chapter of this widely connected, cinematic universe.
Immediately after Avengers: Endgame, we web-swing into the the beginning of Phase 4 with Spider-Man: Far From Home. Confirmed to take place minutes after the events of Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man/Peter Parker is spearheading and most likely leading the way of the “ground level” heroes of the MCU and whatever adventures will seem to follow.
Following suit is the beloved Natasha Romanoff aka The Black Widow. Despite her solo outing coming in 2020. The Black Widow solo film is one of two prequel films releasing at the beginning of Phase 4 of the MCU.
Who does this other prequel belong too? The Eternals. Created by Jack Kirby. First appearing in The Eternals #1 in 1976. This film is essentially a prequel to the entirety of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And if you haven’t noticed by now, we currently have an Eternal roaming around the MCU, collecting Infinity Stones, Decimating half of all life and now resting, watching the sun rise on a grateful universe. Sound familiar? Yeah, it’s Thanos!
Thanos isn’t the only Eternal roaming the MCU, and while we didn’t get to see him personally. Thanos’ father A’lars is name dropped in Avengers: Infinity War by the Red Skull, confirming the existence of more than one Eternal in this cinematic universe. We also get a Thanos monologue about his home-world Titan and his people. Consider them all Eternals too but they’re non-existent at this point.
Now, that we kind of have you up to speed on the useful information needed on The Eternals, let’s dive in a little deeper on what The Eternals solo film will entail.
According to Kevin Feige, The Eternals will be taking place thousands of years before the Marvel Cinematic Universe and will be centered around two Eternals, Ikarus and Sersi. The film is being penned by Matthew and Ryan Firpo and will be directed by Chloe Zhao and will commence filming in Atlanta this August.
With that being set in stone, casting is now underway and just like the plans for Phase 4 post Avengers: Endgame, spoilery casting details are heavily under wraps. But according to a report by The Hollywood Reporter a couple days ago. Marvel Studios is now in talks with Hollywood star Angelina Jolie (Tomb Raider, Salt, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Wanted, Maleficent, Dumbo), to join the film in the lead role.
Angelina Jolie could be playing one of these two characters, Sersi or Thena. Both Eternal Goddesses and leading women of The Eternals race. While the potential role for Jolie has yet to be specified, here are a couple character casting breakdowns courtesy of That Hashtag Show, to solidify what we are trying to inform you guys with.
The Eternals Character Breakdowns for Sersi and Thena:
For the role of Sersi, the studio is looking for a female, 20-40. Sersi is a fourth generation member of the Eternals. She differs from her fellow Eternals in her desire to live amongst humans. She does not age and can only be killed if her atoms are scattered.
That Hashtag Show
An actress 20-40 is being sought for the role of Thena.
That Hashtag Show
Thena was born in the city of Olympia in ancient Greece, and is thus one of the Eternals of Olympia. Originally named Azura, but her father Zuras had her name changed by royal decree to resemble that of Zeus’ daughter Athena to seal the treaty between their two peoples.
It’ll be interesting to see which of these two characters Angelina Jolie lands. Both of are great strong women in their own right, and both women will also be lead characters in The Eternals film. If Sersi will indeed play the love interest of Ikarus in this film as well, then Sersi would be the more prominent role for Jolie, opposed to the role of Thena.
As I mentioned before, not much is known about the film other than, that it centers around Ikarus and Sersi. What we have heard online though, is that Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios, now owning the rights to the X-Men, will use The Eternals film to usher in mutants into the MCU.
Marvel has already started introducing mutants in the form of Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. While the retcon was recent, in an updated version of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Visual Dictionary, Scarlet Witch is revealed to have had a latent ability within her awakened while being experimented on by Baron Von Strucker prior to the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Either way this is a huge win for Marvel is they can pull this off with Angelina Jolie in the lead role. While it seems like a long shot…Charlie Hunnam for the role of Ikarus anyone? Ahhh, maybe he should just be Green Arrow…time will tell!
Source: The Hollywood Reporter, Marvel Studios, That Hashtag Show