Warning: Full spoilers follow for Eternals.
With Marvel’s Eternals now available on Disney+, whether you are watching it for the first time or the hundredth there is so much to take in about this MCU story that spans thousands and thousands of years.
To help those who have yet to see it as well as those who are still trying to process what happened in Eternals, we’ve tried to answer all the biggest questions from the movie as well as how the events of the film could play into future Marvel movies. We dive deep into some of its biggest reveals, the film’s ending and post-credit scenes, and so much more.
In our Eternals review, we said, “Eternals is huge. Centuries worth of stories and a whole team of vastly different heroes are condensed into a visually stunning and impeccably acted film. The relationships of these complicated characters keep things as fresh as they can, but the story gets unwieldy when it shifts into a cosmic scale. Had it kept the narrative closer to home, it would have played better as a standalone film, but it wouldn’t have felt like the grand Eternals introduction into the MCU had that been the case. Director Chloé Zhao was met with an impossible challenge that she took on with grace, skill, and her trademark jaw-dropping scenery.”
Eternals is currently available on Disney+ to all subscribers at no extra cost and on other digital platforms. It will become available on 4K/Blu-ray/DVD on February 15, 2022.
Eternals has a runtime of 157 minutes or two hours and 37 minutes. This makes it the second-longest MCU film behind Avengers: Endgame’s three-hour and one-minute runtime.
Eternals premiered exclusively in theaters on November 5, 2021.
Eternals takes place after the events of Avengers: Endgame.
Eternals follows a group of ancient beings who have been living on Earth for thousands of years, protecting humans from a terrifying enemy known as the Deviants. After living among humans in secret for many years, a new threat brings the team back together to face off, once more, against these dangerous foes.
Eternals follows a group of 10… well… Eternals as they work to save humanity from the Deviants. Each Eternal shares a basic range of abilities like resistance to age and disease, but each Eternal also has unique abilities that set them apart from one another. You can check out the full Eternals team below, and read much more about their powers, origins, and much more in our Eternals Explainer feature.
Eternals was directed by Academy Award-winning director Chloe Zhao, who previously helmed Nomadland, The Rider, Songs My Brothers Taught Me, and more. Zhao also wrote the screenplay alongside Patrick Burleigh, Ryan Firpo, and Kaz Firpo. The film is produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore, and is based on the Eternals comics by Jack Kirby.
The enormous, godlike beings known as the Celestials came to Earth over a million years ago and experimented with early primate life by creating three distinct new species - humans, Eternals, and Deviants. The Deviants began as the dominant lifeform, but their kind was slaughtered after the Celestials returned to Earth. Following this tragic string of events, the Deviants went into hiding, all while holding a grudge against their creators and planning to one day get their revenge.
While we first saw a dead Celestial in Guardians of the Galaxy as it served as Knowhere - the home of the Collector - as well as a quick flashback to the Celestials of yesteryear, GotG Vol. 2’s Ego was our first real look at these ancient beings. However, Eternals’ Celestials are MUCH bigger than Ego and are one of the oldest and most powerful races of sentient beings in the universe.
In Eternals, we begin by thinking that Arishem sent our heroes to Earth to protect the planet from the Deviants, but it turns out that it was really to prepare Earth for the “Emergence.” As it turns out, Arishem and the Celestials have been planting seeds in planets that would become new Celestials. Unfortunately, this event also means the destruction of the planet where the seed resides. Earth’s new Celestial was to be known as Tiamut, but the Eternals stop the emergence and save the planet and all who call it home.
After the Eternals stop Tiamut from being “born,” Ikaris, who let Ajak be killed by the Deviants when he discovered she wanted to stop Arishem and the Emergence, chooses to fly into the sun after being unable to come to terms with the guilt he had from betraying both Arishem and his love Sersei.
Speaking of Sersei, she uses some of the remaining energy from the Uni-Mind to turn Sprite into a human, which will allow her to finally grow older and stop forever living as a child. However, this means she will eventually grow old and die.
Thena, Druig, and Makkari leave Earth on the Domo to find other Eternals and warn them of the Emergences, and Kingo, Phastos, and Sersi choose to stay. That choice is quickly ripped from them, however, as Arishem pulls them into space and says he will spare humanity if they can prove mankind is worthy. He then takes them with him and promises to return for judgement before the credits roll.
Yes! It has two!
One of the biggest questions coming out of the Eternals post-credit scenes was who that voice belonged to that was speaking to Dane Whitman as he opened the case containing the Ebony Blade.
“Are you sure you’re ready for that, Mr. Whitman?” the voice says.
It has been confirmed that the mysterious voice was none other than Mahershala Ali’s Blade, who is set to star in a solo movie in the future.
One of the biggest surprise cameos in Eternals’ post-credit scenes was not a beloved MCU character, but former One Direction star Harry Styles. In the MCU, Styles will play Eros, aka Starfox. Despite being the so-called brother of Thanos, the two are wildly different.
In the comics, Eros is more of a lover than a fighter and loves to spend his days as hedonistically as possible. He has the ability to use psionic power to control people’s emotions and was even an Avenger.
Thanos was raised as an Eternal but he also carries the Deviant gene, and following years and years of cybernetic augmentation and experimentation have turned him into the Mad Titan we see in the MCU that snaps away half of all life.
In the comics, Thanos’ Deviant gene was the reason for his purple skin, and the lack of this gene in Eros is the reason they look much different. He would come to resent Eros for looking like a “normal” Eternal and would have to deal with many, including his mother Sui-san, being terrified by his looks.
Patton Oswalt’s Pip the Troll appeared alongside Harry Styles’ Eros in Eternals’ post-credit scene and is another character pulled right from the comics, in which he’s a Laxidazian nobleman that was turned into a troll. He has helped Adam Warlock defeat his evil counterpart the Magus, among other adventures. And Warlock will be in Guardians of the Galaxy 3, played by Will Poulter, so an Eternals team-up seems like a possibility soon…
While we don’t get to see him as the sword-wielding superhero Black Knight, it is all but confirmed that Game of Thrones’ Kit Harrington will soon become Black Knight.
Over the years, many have carried the mantle of the Black Knight in the comics, but Dane Whitman is perhaps the most recognizable of all. He wields a powerful sword called the Ebony Blade - which we saw in Eternals’ post-credit scene - and is a descendant of Sir Percy of Scandia, who himself was a member of King Arthur’s Court. He’s also served as an Avenger.
The Ebony Blade is the main source of Black Knight’s power and was forged by Merlin. It’s said to be able to cut through nearly any substance in the universe. Unfortunately, it is also infected with a blood curse that can drive its owner mad after it spills too much blood. Oh, and it can be summoned like Mjolnir.
Bill Skarsgard, who also played Pennywise in It Chapter 2 and Zeitgeist in Deadpool 2, lent his voice to Kro the Deviant in Eternals.
Eternals does not hold back in having some of its biggest characters meet their end. Ajak is killed by the Deviants thanks to Ikaris’ betrayal, Gilgamesh has his life-force sucked out of him by Deviant leader Kro, Tiamut’s Emergence is halted by our heroes, and Ikaris flys himself into the sun after being unable to live with the guilt of his actions.
These unfortunate souls were added to the ever-growing list of every dead MCU character. However, as in comics and MCU, death doesn't necessarily mean it will be the last time we see these characters.
Yes, Eternals’ sex scene between Ikaris and Sersi was the first of its kind to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. Additionally, director Chloe Zhao revealed the team only needed 25 minutes to film the whole thing.
The Eternals comic book series was one of Jack Kirby’s final major contributions to the Marvel Universe and the idea was influenced greatly by Erich von Däniken's 1968 book Chariots of the Gods?. It explored the idea that extraterrestrial life was instrumental in the development of humankind at its most crucial stages.
"Despite the fact that I've contrived my own version of those momentous confrontations of prehistory, I take them from the de facto questions of today,” Kirby wrote on the topic. “What did happen in those remote days of men’s early struggle for civilized status? What is the true meaning of the myths which shared a global similarity among diverse peoples? Did beings of an extra terrestrial nature touch down among us and influence our lives to this present day? And then, the all-important question of the lot – are these beings in some cosmic orbit which will lead them back to us someday?"
IGN can exclusively reveal a deleted scene that will be released alongside the 4K/Blu-ray/DVD release of Eternals on February 15. In this scene that would have been early in the film, Dane has become aware of Sprite and Sersi's true nature and he is seen reassuring Sprite about his plans to move in with Sersi. We also learn a bit more about how the Eternals have influenced humanity's mythological figures and legends over the years.
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.
Continue reading...
With Marvel’s Eternals now available on Disney+, whether you are watching it for the first time or the hundredth there is so much to take in about this MCU story that spans thousands and thousands of years.
To help those who have yet to see it as well as those who are still trying to process what happened in Eternals, we’ve tried to answer all the biggest questions from the movie as well as how the events of the film could play into future Marvel movies. We dive deep into some of its biggest reveals, the film’s ending and post-credit scenes, and so much more.
- Eternals Review
- How Can I Watch Eternals and Is It on Disney+?
- How Long Is Eternals?
- When Did Eternals Premiere in Theaters?
- Where in the MCU Timeline Does Eternals Take Place?
- What Is Eternals About?
- How Many Eternals Are There?
- Who Directed Eternals?
- The Deviants: Eternals' Villains Explained
- Who Are Arishem, Tiamut, and the Celestials?
- Ending of Eternals Explained
- Does Eternals Have Post-Credit Scenes?
- Whose Voice Was in Eternals' Post-Credit Scene and Was It Blade?
- Eternals After Credit Scene Explained: Who Is Harry Styles' Eternals Character Eros/Starfox?
- Is Thanos an Eternal?
- Who Is Patton Oswalt's Eternals Characters Pip the Troll?
- Who Is Kit Harrington's Dane Whitman in Eternals and Is He the Black Knight?
- Who Does Bill Skarsgard Play in Eternals?
- Who Dies in Eternals?
- Was Eternals' Sex Scene the First One in the MCU?
- What Was the Inspiration Behind the Eternals Comics?
- Marvel's Eternals: Exclusive Deleted Scene Shows More of Dane Whiteman and Sprite
- Eternals Trailers and Featurettes
Eternals Review
In our Eternals review, we said, “Eternals is huge. Centuries worth of stories and a whole team of vastly different heroes are condensed into a visually stunning and impeccably acted film. The relationships of these complicated characters keep things as fresh as they can, but the story gets unwieldy when it shifts into a cosmic scale. Had it kept the narrative closer to home, it would have played better as a standalone film, but it wouldn’t have felt like the grand Eternals introduction into the MCU had that been the case. Director Chloé Zhao was met with an impossible challenge that she took on with grace, skill, and her trademark jaw-dropping scenery.”
How Can I Watch Eternals and Is It on Disney+?
Eternals is currently available on Disney+ to all subscribers at no extra cost and on other digital platforms. It will become available on 4K/Blu-ray/DVD on February 15, 2022.
How Long Is Eternals?
Eternals has a runtime of 157 minutes or two hours and 37 minutes. This makes it the second-longest MCU film behind Avengers: Endgame’s three-hour and one-minute runtime.
When Did Eternals Premiere in Theaters?
Eternals premiered exclusively in theaters on November 5, 2021.
Where in the MCU Timeline Does Eternals Take Place?
Eternals takes place after the events of Avengers: Endgame.
What Is Eternals About?
Eternals follows a group of ancient beings who have been living on Earth for thousands of years, protecting humans from a terrifying enemy known as the Deviants. After living among humans in secret for many years, a new threat brings the team back together to face off, once more, against these dangerous foes.
How Many Eternals Are There?
Eternals follows a group of 10… well… Eternals as they work to save humanity from the Deviants. Each Eternal shares a basic range of abilities like resistance to age and disease, but each Eternal also has unique abilities that set them apart from one another. You can check out the full Eternals team below, and read much more about their powers, origins, and much more in our Eternals Explainer feature.
- Sersi (Gemma Chan)
- Thena (Angelina Jolie)
- Ikaris (Richard Madden)
- Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani)
- Makkari (Lauren Ridloff)
- Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry)
- Ajak (Salma Hayek)
- Sprite (Lia McHugh)
- Druig (Barry Keoghan)
- Gilgamesh (Don Lee)
Who Directed Eternals?
Eternals was directed by Academy Award-winning director Chloe Zhao, who previously helmed Nomadland, The Rider, Songs My Brothers Taught Me, and more. Zhao also wrote the screenplay alongside Patrick Burleigh, Ryan Firpo, and Kaz Firpo. The film is produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore, and is based on the Eternals comics by Jack Kirby.
The Deviants: Eternals’ Villains Explained
The enormous, godlike beings known as the Celestials came to Earth over a million years ago and experimented with early primate life by creating three distinct new species - humans, Eternals, and Deviants. The Deviants began as the dominant lifeform, but their kind was slaughtered after the Celestials returned to Earth. Following this tragic string of events, the Deviants went into hiding, all while holding a grudge against their creators and planning to one day get their revenge.
Who Are Arishem, Tiamut, and the Celestials?
While we first saw a dead Celestial in Guardians of the Galaxy as it served as Knowhere - the home of the Collector - as well as a quick flashback to the Celestials of yesteryear, GotG Vol. 2’s Ego was our first real look at these ancient beings. However, Eternals’ Celestials are MUCH bigger than Ego and are one of the oldest and most powerful races of sentient beings in the universe.
In Eternals, we begin by thinking that Arishem sent our heroes to Earth to protect the planet from the Deviants, but it turns out that it was really to prepare Earth for the “Emergence.” As it turns out, Arishem and the Celestials have been planting seeds in planets that would become new Celestials. Unfortunately, this event also means the destruction of the planet where the seed resides. Earth’s new Celestial was to be known as Tiamut, but the Eternals stop the emergence and save the planet and all who call it home.
Ending of Eternals Explained
After the Eternals stop Tiamut from being “born,” Ikaris, who let Ajak be killed by the Deviants when he discovered she wanted to stop Arishem and the Emergence, chooses to fly into the sun after being unable to come to terms with the guilt he had from betraying both Arishem and his love Sersei.
Speaking of Sersei, she uses some of the remaining energy from the Uni-Mind to turn Sprite into a human, which will allow her to finally grow older and stop forever living as a child. However, this means she will eventually grow old and die.
Thena, Druig, and Makkari leave Earth on the Domo to find other Eternals and warn them of the Emergences, and Kingo, Phastos, and Sersi choose to stay. That choice is quickly ripped from them, however, as Arishem pulls them into space and says he will spare humanity if they can prove mankind is worthy. He then takes them with him and promises to return for judgement before the credits roll.
Does Eternals Have Post-Credit Scenes?
Yes! It has two!
Whose Voice was in Eternals’ Post-Credit Scene and Was It Blade?
One of the biggest questions coming out of the Eternals post-credit scenes was who that voice belonged to that was speaking to Dane Whitman as he opened the case containing the Ebony Blade.
“Are you sure you’re ready for that, Mr. Whitman?” the voice says.
It has been confirmed that the mysterious voice was none other than Mahershala Ali’s Blade, who is set to star in a solo movie in the future.
Eternals After Credit Scene Explained: Who Is Harry Styles’ Eternals Character Eros/Starfox?
One of the biggest surprise cameos in Eternals’ post-credit scenes was not a beloved MCU character, but former One Direction star Harry Styles. In the MCU, Styles will play Eros, aka Starfox. Despite being the so-called brother of Thanos, the two are wildly different.
In the comics, Eros is more of a lover than a fighter and loves to spend his days as hedonistically as possible. He has the ability to use psionic power to control people’s emotions and was even an Avenger.
Is Thanos an Eternal?
Thanos was raised as an Eternal but he also carries the Deviant gene, and following years and years of cybernetic augmentation and experimentation have turned him into the Mad Titan we see in the MCU that snaps away half of all life.
In the comics, Thanos’ Deviant gene was the reason for his purple skin, and the lack of this gene in Eros is the reason they look much different. He would come to resent Eros for looking like a “normal” Eternal and would have to deal with many, including his mother Sui-san, being terrified by his looks.
Who Is Patton Oswalt’s Eternals Character Pip the Troll?
Patton Oswalt’s Pip the Troll appeared alongside Harry Styles’ Eros in Eternals’ post-credit scene and is another character pulled right from the comics, in which he’s a Laxidazian nobleman that was turned into a troll. He has helped Adam Warlock defeat his evil counterpart the Magus, among other adventures. And Warlock will be in Guardians of the Galaxy 3, played by Will Poulter, so an Eternals team-up seems like a possibility soon…
Who Is Kit Harrington’s Dane Whitman in Eternals and Is He the Black Knight?
While we don’t get to see him as the sword-wielding superhero Black Knight, it is all but confirmed that Game of Thrones’ Kit Harrington will soon become Black Knight.
Over the years, many have carried the mantle of the Black Knight in the comics, but Dane Whitman is perhaps the most recognizable of all. He wields a powerful sword called the Ebony Blade - which we saw in Eternals’ post-credit scene - and is a descendant of Sir Percy of Scandia, who himself was a member of King Arthur’s Court. He’s also served as an Avenger.
The Ebony Blade is the main source of Black Knight’s power and was forged by Merlin. It’s said to be able to cut through nearly any substance in the universe. Unfortunately, it is also infected with a blood curse that can drive its owner mad after it spills too much blood. Oh, and it can be summoned like Mjolnir.
Who Does Bill Skarsgard Play in Eternals?
Bill Skarsgard, who also played Pennywise in It Chapter 2 and Zeitgeist in Deadpool 2, lent his voice to Kro the Deviant in Eternals.
Who Dies in Eternals?
Eternals does not hold back in having some of its biggest characters meet their end. Ajak is killed by the Deviants thanks to Ikaris’ betrayal, Gilgamesh has his life-force sucked out of him by Deviant leader Kro, Tiamut’s Emergence is halted by our heroes, and Ikaris flys himself into the sun after being unable to live with the guilt of his actions.
These unfortunate souls were added to the ever-growing list of every dead MCU character. However, as in comics and MCU, death doesn't necessarily mean it will be the last time we see these characters.
Was Eternals’ Sex Scene the First One in the MCU?
Yes, Eternals’ sex scene between Ikaris and Sersi was the first of its kind to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. Additionally, director Chloe Zhao revealed the team only needed 25 minutes to film the whole thing.
What Was the Inspiration Behind the Eternals Comics?
The Eternals comic book series was one of Jack Kirby’s final major contributions to the Marvel Universe and the idea was influenced greatly by Erich von Däniken's 1968 book Chariots of the Gods?. It explored the idea that extraterrestrial life was instrumental in the development of humankind at its most crucial stages.
"Despite the fact that I've contrived my own version of those momentous confrontations of prehistory, I take them from the de facto questions of today,” Kirby wrote on the topic. “What did happen in those remote days of men’s early struggle for civilized status? What is the true meaning of the myths which shared a global similarity among diverse peoples? Did beings of an extra terrestrial nature touch down among us and influence our lives to this present day? And then, the all-important question of the lot – are these beings in some cosmic orbit which will lead them back to us someday?"
Marvel's Eternals: Exclusive Deleted Scene Shows More of Dane Whiteman and Sprite
IGN can exclusively reveal a deleted scene that will be released alongside the 4K/Blu-ray/DVD release of Eternals on February 15. In this scene that would have been early in the film, Dane has become aware of Sprite and Sersi's true nature and he is seen reassuring Sprite about his plans to move in with Sersi. We also learn a bit more about how the Eternals have influenced humanity's mythological figures and legends over the years.
Eternals Trailers and Featurettes
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.
Continue reading...