Summary
Marvel Cinematic Universefans have shared their frustration about reports thatEternalsmay not be moving forward with a sequel. During Phase 4 ofthe MCU timeline, Marvel Studios invested time in theEternalscharacters by bringing them from page to screen in 2021. However, the franchise has yet to bring back any of those players since their team-up movie that happened nearly three years ago.
Varietyhas reported that “Marvel is reportedly not developing a sequel for Eternals 2”, following Kevin Feige’s July 2024 assertion toInversethat “there are no immediate plans for Eternals 2”. WhileEternalssaw mixed reactions, it didn’t take long for the MCU audience to react to this report with calls for a sequel. Check out several reactions below:
ComparingEternals’box office results to the firstDunemovie,@IamJacob_AOSstressed that a sequel should happen due to the film’s success on Disney+.
@iamrobsinclairdoesn’t think it is fair forEternals 2to get scrapped, stating that the first film had the COVID pandemic against it, hence its box office results.
While disappointed with the report,@BanluanMCUhopes that theEternalscharacters will be back in the MCU’s future, perhaps as part of a saga that involves the X-Men.
@iam_rrt, who also enjoyedEternals, stressed that the Phase 4 movie was ahead of its time, suggesting that perhaps it should have come out further down the line.
Why Eternals 2 Seems Unlikely To Happen
It would currently make a lot of sense forEternals 2to not go forward, especially with the current MCU climate. As of right now, Marvel Studios is trying to finishThe Multiverse Saga, which is in the midst of Phase 5, with Phase 6 still waiting to start in 2025. With projects likeBladeandArmor Warsstill stuck in development hell, as well as sequels forDoctor StrangeandShang-Chi, Marvel Studios already have their hands full.
Ever since Bob Iger came back to Disney, the studio has been focusing on quality over quantity, including focusing on more popular IPs within all of their franchises, including Marvel Studios. Given thatEternalsfeatures some very obscure characters who weren’t quite a universal hit with audiences, it would make sense forEternals 2to not be a priority. Since Marvel Studios is also scaling back on its releases across film and TV,anEternals 2sequelwouldn’t even appear to fit into their schedule as of right now, anyway.
In the end,Eternalswill likely serve as a crucial lesson for Marvel Studios in how they approach introducing new characters from the comics into the MCU. While an interesting experiment, based on its timing, as well as the critical and box office results that it received, time will tell if the MCU uses theEternalscharacters somewhere else in the franchise. But for now, the audience can reliveEternalsthrough Blu-ray/DVD and on Disney+.
Eternals
Cast
Eternals, directed by Chloé Zhao, follows a group of ancient aliens who have secretly lived on Earth for thousands of years. The film explores their reunion in the face of an unexpected tragedy and the threat posed by their age-old adversaries, the Deviants. Released in 2021, the film expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Source: See links above/Variety
