Eros Creator Has No Idea How Marvel Can Adapt Character For MCU

Eros creator Jim Starlin has no idea how the MCU will adapt the character and work around his problematic powers even after his appearance in Eternals. Eros made his cinematic debut in the post-credits scene of Eternals, played by pop superstar Harry Styles. The character is joined alongside Pip the Troll (voiced by Patton Oswalt) as he meets Thena (Angelina Jolie), Makkari (Lauren Ridloff), and Druig (Barry Keoghan) on their ship. Eros offers to help them save their remaining team members from the Celestials, leaving Eternals on a cliffhanger.

The character has been a long-established character in Marvel Comics and was first introduced in The Invincible Iron Man #55 in 1973. Eros is an Eternal born on the planet Titan and is the brother of Thanos. Eros, also known as Starfox, has the ability to psychically control the emotions of those around him; this often translates to giving people a sense of euphoria and feelings of infatuation, especially towards himself. These powers have, in recent years, been called into question and have readers debating if his romantic relationships are consensual.

With all of his baggage, Eros is a particularly tricky character to adapt, as his creator seems to acknowledge. Speaking with Inverse, Starlin reveals that while he has an understanding of how Pip the Troll can work in the MCU, he is less sure about Eros given the character's power set and comic book history. Starlin says:

"Pip will be the comic relief. He's also a teleporter and that brings in all sorts of possibilities.

"Eros, on the other hand, he's an interesting one. I have no idea what they're going to do with him. I sort of left him as a sociopath and he is sort of a sexual predator. So I'll be curious to see how the MCU Eros fares up against the other one. Especially in this day and age. So that's always a tricky one."

Eros' power set is certainly an uncomfortable one and is one that both Marvel and their parent company Disney would like to avoid in their all-ages global film and television franchise. The MCU has reworked elements from the comics to fit within the context of their shared universe, often trimming down the rougher edges. This ranges from toning down Tony Stark's alcoholism in Iron Man 2 to the Ant-Man films' version of Hank Pym being very different from the comics version, who is more famously known for hitting his wife. Marvel Studios makes changes in their adaptations to make their heroes more likable, and they will likely do the same with Eros. Styles' casting even suggests the studio intends to make Eros a true romantic hero, so perhaps his grey areas will be toned down considerably.

Currently, it is unknown when and where in the MCU's Multiverse Saga Eros will pop up next. Last month, Kevin Feige did reveal that Eros and Pip the Troll would return, but did not specify when or where, be it a rumored unannounced Eternals sequel, the planned Nova project, or even an episode of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, given that Eros and Jennifer Walters have a history together. Styles says he does not know when he will act again, implying there is currently no set return for Eros and leaving his future in the MCU up in the air.

Source: Inverse