Why Sprite Is So Much Younger Than Marvel's Other Eternals

Screen Rant

By Adrienne Tyler

Published Nov 12, 2021

Sprite, one of the members of the Eternals, is the only one who looks like a teenager even though she's the same age as the rest – but why?

Marvel’s Eternals introduced the audience to a new team of superheroes with a variety of powers (and flaws as well), and one who stands out from the bunch is Sprite, the only Eternal who looks like a teenager – and here’s why she looks so much younger than the rest. The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues expanding now that the Infinity Saga has come to an end, and Phase 4 is introducing a variety of characters that will change the history of the MCU. The latest addition to this universe are the Eternals, a team that, as it turns out, has been on Earth for centuries.

Directed by Chloé Zhao, Eternals tells the story of the title team, who are an alien race created by the Celestial Arishem and were sent to Earth centuries ago to keep it safe from the Deviants, but weren’t allowed to intervene in wars and other major conflicts. The Eternals ended up parting ways and living separate lives for many, many years, and were forced to reunite when the Deviants returned and an event called “The Emergence” approached. The team is formed by Sersi (Gemma Chan), Ikaris (Richard Madden), Sprite (Lia McHugh), Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani), Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry), Makkari (Lauren Ridloff), Druig (Barry Keoghan), Gilgamesh (Don Lee), Thena (Angelina Jolie), and Ajak (Salma Hayek), all of them with specific sets of powers, but one character who inevitably stands out is Sprite, as she looks way younger than the rest, even though they are all the same age.

The Eternals were all created at the same time and sent to Earth together, meaning they all have the same age, but Sprite was made to look like a 12-year-old – and as they were made to be technically immortal (as they could be killed by Deviants), they never aged, so Sprite was destined to look like a teenager forever. In the comics, Sprite is also the youngest-looking Eternal and he’s actually a boy (she and Ajak are the only characters who were gender-swapped in the MCU’s Eternals), but there’s no exact reason why he was made to look like a teen, but when looking at their powers, it makes sense why the writers give them that appearance.

In addition to the powers that all Eternals have, such as superhuman strength, durability, speed, agility, stamina, reflexes, and cosmic energy manipulation, Sprite can project life-like illusions, and that also means that Sprite has been given the role of the trickster and prankster of the team. With that in mind, giving Sprite the appearance of a child fits with their trickster personality, but that has also created a lot of conflict for the young-looking hero. In Eternals (and in the comics as well), Sprite questions why she was made that way, as she will never be able to experience what it feels to grow up, fall in love, and do all those things humans can as they grow old, which is why near the end, Sersi – with the remaining power of the Uni-Mind – turns her into a human, allowing her to stay on Earth and live a normal life.

It’s unknown if now that Sprite is a human she will return in an Eternals sequel or other MCU movies, and thus it’s also unknown if a proper reason to why she looked like a teenager for centuries will be given, but for now, it all seems to be a narrative decision in order for the character to fit with their powers and personality.

Next: All 12 Marvel Movies Releasing After Eternals (& When)