Phase 4 of the MCU will finally be starting this year with Black Widow this summer. However, later in the year, we will be introduced to one of the MCU's most interesting and exciting new franchises with the release of Eternals.
Eternals is directed by Chloé Zhao and stars Angelina Jolie, Kumail Nanjiani, Richard Madden and more in the story of ancient cosmic beings who have been living amongst humans for thousands of years. While the project is being kept very secretive, there are plenty of rumors already swirling. Here are some rumors about Eternals we hope are true and some we hope are not.
Hope Is True: Maelstrom Is The Villain
Details about this movie are being kept so tightly guarded that we're still not entirely sure who will be playing heroes and who will be playing villains. However, one villain character that is being rumored to be featured is exciting for the film and the future of the MCU.
Maelstrom is a villain from the comics, Maelstrom is an Inhuman character who lived amongst the Deviants. With the Deviants said to be the main threat in the film, there is a lot of speculation that Maelstrom will be the main antagonist who can then go on to be a threat in further films.
Hope Isn't True: Creating Of The Mutants
The introduction of the Eternals will no doubt be a game-changing event in the MCU. These are all-powerful beings who have been hiding in plain sight for years who are set to finally emerge and reveal themselves to the world.
Given how significant this could be, the theories that they will also help bring mutants into the MCU seems to be pushing for too much. With the X-Men now a part of the MCU, it will be interesting to see how mutants are explained. But for them to be shoehorned into this film seems like a bad idea.
Hope Is True: The Snap
Knowing that the Eternals have been there this whole time begs the obvious question of why they haven't stepped in to help out before. When Loki attacked Earth or Thanos wiped out half of the universe, those seemed like good times to show themselves.
However, rumors have it that decision will play directly into the storyline of the film. Some rumors suggest that given the damage that Thanos committed, the other Eternals are seen as a threat that the Celestials decide to eliminate. It could be an interesting way of bringing them into the wider world of the MCU.
Hope Isn't: Baby Thanos
Thanos is connected to the Eternals in the comic books and many are wondering if those connections will stand in the movie as well. The backstory we know from Thanos thus far in the MCU doesn't mention anything about the Eternals, but given the timespan of this movie, there are rumors a young Thanos could appear.
Thanos is clearly an interesting villain and one worth exploring more but now doesn't seem like the right time. We just saw him defeated in Avengers: Endgame so what would be the point in exploring his past now? Better to focus on new characters.
Hope Is True: Celestials Appear
In the comics, Celestials are godlike beings who are responsible for creating the Eternals to protect humankind from the Deviants. It has been confirmed that the Celestials will play a role in this film which means we could see some familiar faces returning.
In the movies, one Celestial we have met so far is Ego, played by Kurt Russell in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. It would be a lot of fun to see him pop up in the movie even for just a quick cameo.
Hope Isn't True: Retconning
It can be a lot of fun to explore the MCU's past and discover new secrets. However, we hope that the story doesn't get too carried away with reshaping things that we already know. If certain rumors are true, there could be aspects of the MCU that are retconned through this film.
Some of the things that have been rumored to be addressed in Eternals include Asgardians, Infinity Stones, and various Earth-bound events of previous films. If they start playing around with what's already established, it could make for a big continuity mess.
Hope Is True: Hercules Appears
Along with the Eternal characters like Ikaris and Sersi who will be introduced in this movie, there are some non-Eternal characters set to join the MCU. It has been confirmed that Kit Harrington will be playing Dane Whitman in the film who goes on to become the hero Black Knight.
However, one other rumored hero is even more exciting. Some reports suggest the film will also bring Hercules into the MCU. Hercules has been a key member of the Avengers in the comics and this seems like the perfect opportunity to introduce a character that would be hard to bring in any other way.
Hope Isn't True: Namor To Appear
Given the centuries-spanning and secret-revealing nature of the Eternals storyline, there have been plenty of rumors about other heroes that might pop up in the movie. While it would be easy for the movie to introduce just about any hero, some are better left alone for now.
Namor is another hero whose name has been linked to this movie. Though Namor is a fascinating hero we'd love to see in the MCU eventually, it would feel a little rushed to introduce such a complex character in a cameo in this film.
Hope Is True: Secrets Of The MCU
One of the most exciting aspects of the film is the fact that it will reportedly span thousands of years throughout the universe. While it will be fun to see the Eternals in a modern setting, there are so many possibilities for where the story can go by exploring the past.
Though the Eternals might not be well-known characters, rumors suggest this movie might be very important for the future of the MCU. It is thought that the secrets of the MCU's past will be revealed and change things forever going forward.
Hope Isn't True: Setting Up Too Much
The thing that makes Eternals such an exciting project is also the thing that makes us worry the most. Even with so much success to date, this feels like such an ambitious project for the MCU. From the characters who are virtually unknown to the massive timeline to the exciting new storylines, there seems like a lot to pack into one film.
Some rumors suggest this movie is meant to kick-start a new chapter in the MCU and has been compared to Iron Man in terms of its importance to the MCU. That's a lot of pressure to put on the film so hopefully, they are allowing it to exist as its own story as well.