The Eternals trailer suggests the ancient aliens encountered Steve Rogers during the events of Captain America: The First Avenger. Marvel has finally released the first trailer for Eternals, introducing viewers to what may be one of the most powerful groups in the MCU, a team of near-immortal beings who were sent to Earth to act as shepherds and guides for humanity.

The Eternals have profoundly influenced MCU human history. The Eternals trailer suggested they arrived in ancient Mesopotamia, the so-called Cradle of Civilization, and inspired the Neolithic Revolution. They were shown standing before the walls of Babylon (subtly redesigned to indicate an Eternal influence), and other artifacts seen in the trailer pointed to their involvement with ancient Egypt, the Roman Empire, Camelot, and the Aztec Empire. The Eternals may claim not to have interfered in human affairs, but they seem to be deceiving themselves. What's more, some subtle details even suggest they were active in the 20th century - and may well have encountered Steve Rogers.

Related: Eternals Trailer Confirms Why The Avengers Lost In Infinity War

The final scene in the Eternals trailer saw the heroes discuss who should lead the Avengers now Iron Man and "Captain Rogers" are gone. It's an interesting way of referring to Steve Rogers' Captain America, and it feels almost familiar, perhaps hinting they have actually met the Star-Spangled Avenger. Another shot in the trailer shows what seems to be Kingo's private jet and he has a memento of Captain America in the 20th century: the original Captain America shield. It's the one used by Rogers when he was on tour encouraging people to buy war bonds during the Second World War.

Sprite on a Plane Eternals 2

The Eternals seem to have been involved in many key points in human social and technological development, and it is inconceivable they would simply sit out World War II, which, even in the real world, saw technology and science advance at an unprecedented rate. In the MCU, of course, World War II also saw Professor Abraham Erskine successfully create the world's first superheroes. The Red Skull and Captain America were essentially precursors to the next stage of human development centered around the creation of super soldiers, the enhancement of human beings using advanced technology, and the unlocking of superhuman powers. This would ultimately lead to humanity becoming of cosmic significance in Avengers: Endgame, when the inhabitants of this small blue sphere were responsible for restoring half the life in the universe.

Given the historical significance of Erskine's experiments during WWII, it wouldn't be a surprise to learn some members of the Eternals were involved somehow - perhaps helping Erskine create the super-soldier serum, or perhaps guiding him to choose someone with the right character traits. Or, likelier, they were still involved in trying to influence the events of WWII on the side of the Allies in some way, even if they didn't directly have a hand in helping to create super soldiers. That would explain why the Eternals discussed "Captain Rogers" in such a familiar way, and why Kingo kept a memento of Captain America on his private jet. Of course, Steve Rogers himself most likely had no idea he was interacting with the Eternals.

More: MCU Characters Who Could Already Know The Eternals In-Universe

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