Marvel is expanding the cosmic side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for their post-“Avengers: Endgame” Phase 4, and in doing so has scored a huge casting coup: Angelina Jolie is in talks to star in Marvel’s “Eternals.”
Critically-acclaimed indie filmmaker Chloe Zhao, known for “The Rider” and “Songs My Brothers Taught Me,” is directing the picture based on a script by Matthew and Ryan Firpo.
The Eternals are a powerful race of near-immortals and space gods created by the cosmic beings known as the Celestials. Eternals have existed for millions of years, and their advanced biology gives them incredible strength, everlasting lives, and powers that set them far above mere mortals. There’s also a wicked offshoot known as the Deviants also created by the Celestials. THR, who breaks the news says, while plot details are under wraps, “one aspect to the story involves the love story between Ikaris, a man fueled by cosmic energy, and Sersi, who relishes moving amongst humans.”
Right now, it’s unclear who Jolie will play, and Marvel’s not commenting.
No other details have been released, but Marvel’s Kevin Feige likened “The Eternals” to the “Guardians Of The Galaxy” in terms of a new fully-formed team earlier this year. “We like the idea of introducing an ensemble, doing an ensemble movie from the start, as opposed to building up as we did with the first ‘Avengers,’” he told Collider in February. “More like Guardians, not tonally, but in terms of introducing a new group of people. Jack Kirby did an immense, amazing epic with Eternals that spans tens of thousands of years, and that’s also something we haven’t really done, which is why that among many other things post-Endgame, we find appealing.”
READ MORE: ‘The Rider’ Director Chloe Zhao To Helm Marvel Studios’ ‘The Eternals’
Clearly, the group will fit closer into the non-Earth-bound cosmic side of the MCU which includes ‘Guardians’ and “Captain Marvel” so far.
“The Eternals” is not dated but expected to shoot later this year for a 2020 release. All will likely be revealed at Comic-Con this summer. Zhao will have to find some time to promote “Nomadland,” a Fox Searchlight film starring Frances McDormand she shot in secret, coming out later this year and expected to hit the fall film festival circuit. The news of Jolie joining the cast means more announcements can’t be far behind and perhaps the full team could be rolled out by San Diego.