Chloé Zhao’s Eternals Wows Audiences

What do you get when you combine the most successful franchise of all time, an Academy Award winning director, a 200 million dollar budget, and a cast stacked with the likes of Angelina Jolie, Hallyuwood’s Don Lee, Salma Hayek, comedian Kumail Nanjiani, Game of Thrones’ Kit Harrington and Richard Madden? 

The Eternals. 

Chloé Zhao, the aforementioned award winning director has taken her talents from independent films such as Nomadland to the big budget of a Marvel Studios film. The film is based on a group of immortal beings from comics made by Jack Kirby, a famed Marvel writer from the past. Zhao’s film style is unique, in that she shoots much of her film on site – a difference from the green and blue screens Marvel so frequently uses. 

The Eternals consist of 10 members:

• Ikaris (has the ability to shoot cosmic beams from his eyes; leader and the strongest)
• Sersi (has the ability to manipulate matter) 
• Thena (has the ability to create and master weapons)
• Gilgamesh (has the ability to produce an exoskeleton of cosmic energy)
• Phastos (has the ability to create and design)
• Sprite (has the ability to create illusions and disguise; can manipulate matter to a lesser extent then Sersi) 
• Druig (has the ability of mind control) 
• Makkari (has the ability of super speed)
• Kingo (has the ability to shoot cosmic blasts)
• Ajak (has the ability to heal others; ‘mother-figure’)

As mentioned, Zhao has also assembled quite the cast for this film. Household names such as Angelina Jolie (Thena) and Salma Hayek (Ajak) were acquired, along with Game of Thrones’ very own Kit Harrington and main character Richard Madden (Ikaris). Marvel Studios also signed on Gemma Chan (Sersi), who is working on her second Marvel project. Don Lee (Gilgamesh), quite possibly the most famous Korean actor, is starring in his first Hollywood film. Marvel also introduced their first deaf superhero into the MCU: Lauren Ridloff. Finally, long time Marvel fan Kumial Nanjiani (Kingo), someone who was once a visitor-now-presenter at ComicCon has also made his “heartfelt” intro into the MCU. 

Regarding the plot, The Eternals was fast paced – for a movie clocking in at a little over two and a half hours, the film itself felt much shorter. It opens showing the return of the deviants to earth, as the Eternals ‘get the band back together’. During the rising actions, we see how throughout history the Eternals have progressed humanity forward, in events both successful and dreary. Once the band is back together, tensions flare, and sides are drawn as shocking information is revealed. Will this family-like team stick together, or cave to such a quarrel?

All-in-all, Chloé Zhao’s The Eternals was a blast; I highly recommend any reading to watch!