MCU Theory: Eternals Used the Infinity Stones to Destroy The Celestials

Marvel's upcoming The Eternals movie could explain the extinction of the Celestials - and reveal the Eternals destroyed them using the combined might of the Infinity Stones. There's growing evidence Eternals will essentially serve as a prequel to the entire MCU. According to Marvel's official Eternals synopsis, the Eternals are "ancient aliens who have been living on Earth in secret for thousands of years."

The synopsis suggests the Eternals' origin story has changed somewhat for the MCU. In the comics, the Eternals were an evolutionary offshoot of humanity created by a powerful alien race known as the Celestials. There will still be a relationship of some kind with the Celestials; early concept art featured the Celestials, and tie-in merchandise includes a Funko Pop for Arishem the Jugde, one of the Celestials' leaders. But there's no reason to believe the nature of that relationship will remain the same; that, as in the comics, the Eternals will effectively be the Celestials' worshipers.

The MCU's Celestials were introduced in Guardians of the Galaxy, with the Collector showing footage of one using the Power Stone to judge an entire planet. As revealed in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, these cosmic beings were subsequently rendered extinct; only Ego was left, the last of his kind. Until now, the MCU has been absolutely silent about the cause of this extinction event. Whatever happened, it appears to have caused death and destruction on an unimaginable scale, leaving the planet Sakaar littered with Celestial corpses, and the severed floating head of one gigantic Celestial floating in space - ultimately becoming the mining installation Knowhere. It's entirely possible the Eternals were involved in the extinction event, which could well have happened in their lifetime.

The Celestials are known to judge entire worlds and civilizations, destroying those they deem unworthy according to their own enigmatic criteria. According to the Eternals synopsis, the Eternals were ancient aliens who traveled to Earth to protect the planet - perhaps against the judgment of the Celestials. If that is the case, even the mighty Eternals would need a power-up to defeat these monstrously powerful beings. There is only one force in the universe that could give them enough of an edge; the Infinity Stones. These objects predate the universe itself, and were forged into their most famous form - "concentrated ingots" - by some of the ancient and powerful creatures who inhabited the cosmos in its earliest days.

That could well mean the Celestials were the creators of the Infinity Stones; certainly one was seen wielding the Power Stone in Guardians of the Galaxy, and in Avengers: Endgame Nebula described Vormir - where the Soul Stone lay forgotten - as the "center of Celestial civilization." In order to defeat and destroy the Celestials, the Eternals could have stolen the Infinity Stones from them, and used them to destroy their godlike enemies. They could then be the ones responsible for concealing them, explaining the MCU's last Infinity Stone mystery.

If this theory is correct, The Eternals really is a prequel to the entire Infinity Saga. It reveals the origin of the Infinity Stones, demonstrates their power, and explains who hid them. It also answers the last cosmic question raised by the Guardians of the Galaxy films - how and why the Celestials were wiped out. Hopefully it will also serve to set up the future of the MCU as well.

More: Eternals Can Be A Better Dark Phoenix Adaptation Than X-Men’s Two Movies