Marvel Studios is looking to near the end of 2019 to start production on The Eternals. While the studio has been especially secretive about their Phase 4 plans, one of the earliest surprises has been that they're working on a movie about The Eternals. The possibility was thought to be a long shot, but it instead looks to be a major start to the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Kevin Feige confirmed that The Eternals have big screen potential earlier this year, making it one of the projects fans have been eager to learn more about. The characters were created by Jack Kirby in 1976, and they're closely tied to several major Marvel properties. Matthew and Ryan Firpo wrote the script for Marvel, and it resulted in them quickly seeking out a director. With The Rider's Chloe Zhao tapped to direct the movie, The Eternals has been solidified as part of the early Phase 4 outlook. Still, many have wondered when exactly the movie could pick up more steam through casting and eventually shooting.

Related: The Eternals Could Be A Prequel To The Entire MCU

According to a report from That Hashtag Show, they've been told exclusively that Marvel Studios is targeting a September 2019 start to production for The Eternals. This is just a tentative schedule at this point, as there are still plenty of steps The Eternals must go through before filming can begin, and Marvel will have to iron out the finer points of the production schedule later on. But, THS notes that whether this moves production up a few weeks or back, this fall 2019 window is when Marvel is ultimately hoping for The Eternals to kick off.

Based on a previously revealed plot synopsisThe Eternals could be a true epic for Marvel that spans several decades. The main characters are still likely to be Ikaris and Sersi, with the story reportedly somewhat focused on their romance. Marvel is also said to want a diverse cast to fill out this new potential franchise, and if THS' report is correct on the production schedule, then casting should start to be announced next summer.

The Eternals may not be known to many casual fans at this point, but the same was true of the Guardians of the Galaxy prior to James Gunn's 2014 film. Since Marvel has already proven they can take an obscure cosmic Marvel property and turn it into a worldwide hit, The Eternals will be their attempt to replicate that success. There will be major differences between this and the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise based on the source material alone, but they'll also have their similarities, thanks to Gunn's imprint on the cosmic side of the MCU (both in look and tone). While this possible start may still feel far away, it would all but guarantee The Eternals hits theaters in November 2020. Of course, plans can change quickly, so only time will tell if this is proven to be true.

MORE: Marvel's The Eternals: Every Update You Need To Know

Source: That Hashtag Show

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