With Eternals and Shangi-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Marvel has two Phase 3 MCU actors – Michelle Yeoh and Gemma Chan – playing new characters in its upcoming Phase 4 movies. Chan appeared in Captain Marvel as Minn-Erva, a Kree warrior who served with Star Force. In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Yeoh made a cameo as the MCU’s take on Aleta Ogord, a member of the classic Guardians of the Galaxy team from Marvel Comics.

Both actors are returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Phase 4, but with new characters. Gemma Chan is a part of the star-studded cast that Marvel has put together for Eternals, which centers on a team of super-powered immortals. Chan’s character is Sersi, who in the comics was an Eternal who joined the Avengers in the 1990s and shared a romance with the Black Knight. Sersi is among the most powerful Eternals in Marvel Comics. As for Yeoh, it was recently confirmed by Disney that she will play Jiang Nan in the 2021 film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Not much is known about Michelle Yeoh’s role, but the character’s name suggests she’ll be original to the MCU.

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The casting of Gemma Chan and Michelle Yeoh has raised questions about how each of these characters can play two different people in the same cinematic universe. Chan too was surprised that it was able to work out. According to her, it was Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige who came up with the idea of her being a new MCU character. Feige said he had wanted to make better use of her in another project, and that’s how her role as Sersi in Eternals came about.

Gemma Chan as Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel

That may not be too different from why Marvel pursued Michelle Yeoh for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. As a kung fu film with a primarily Asian cast, it seemed only fitting that Marvel cast big-name Asian actors. And being a martial arts icon to boot, Michelle Yeoh certainly seemed like a logical hire.

One reason why it’s possible is linked to the particular characters they played. Chan’s Minn-Erva died in Captain Marvel, and Yeoh’s Aleta Ogord was included in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. mostly as an Easter egg to the original Guardians. With that in mind, it was always unlikely that either would be used again. This means that Marvel wasn’t risking either actor having two active roles in the MCU at the same time.

Plus, there’s the matter of their appearances. As a Kree, Chan’s Minn-Erva had blue skin and looks fundamentally different to Sersi. Similarly, Yeoh’s Shang-Chi character may adopt a look that sets her apart from the Ravager she very briefly portrayed in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Since the two Phase 3 characters were relatively minor, both may be largely forgotten and out of mind by the time Shang-Chi and Eternals release in 2021.

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