Eternals’ Hottest Romance Is Druig and Makkari
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Photo: Marvel Studios/Courtesy of Marvel Studios
With Oscar winner Chloé Zhao at the helm and a new cosmic mythos for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, along with grand practical effects and a cast of diverse superheroes, Eternals should have been unlike any MCU story before it. And so should have the centuries-spanning romance at its heart between Ikaris (Richard Madden) and Sersi (Gemma Chan). But as the rest of the film turned out to be mostly pretty on the surface but emotionally inert, these two immortal beings’ supposedly sweeping romance did, too.
The MCU is no stranger to couplings that range from “aw” to “ehh” to completely forgettable. (I still cringe at whatever Marvel was trying to do with Sharon Carter and Steve Rogers’s short-lived fling.) But Ikaris and Sersi’s relationship achieves a new level of sexless, doll-like faux intimacy for the franchise — truly something, considering the pair star in the MCU’s first-ever sex scene.
Out of Eternals’ ten heroes, the plot most closely follows Chan’s Sersi, a manipulator of matter who loves Earth, iPhones, and her fellow Eternal Ikaris. Sersi and Ikaris’s special moments together across time play out in a highlight reel — professing their love, marrying, breaking up (inexplicably, Ikaris just sort of leaves), then reuniting. In the present day, after her breakup from Ikaris, Sersi dates Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman, a (not so) seemingly ordinary human with whom she shares some cute moments. But the film clearly wants us to invest in Sersi and Ikaris, especially once he reenters her life, creating a tensionless love triangle of sorts. Chan and Madden are fine actors, but they seem bored by each other’s presence. And what’s the point of pairing two beautiful romantic leads when they’re as emotive as chiseled stone?
All the while, Barry Keoghan’s character Druig and Lauren Ridloff’s Makkari spend Eternals endlessly flirting in the fringes of the plot, igniting the hottest chemistry ever seen in the MCU. After thousands of years apart, Druig and Makkari melt into each other with such envious ease that Ikaris and Sersi’s reunion feels all the more stifled by comparison. The latter couple may get a ten-second missionary-sex scene on the beach, but when Keoghan’s Druig says, “My beautiful, beautiful Makkari”? That’s when I began to feel unwell.
Who knew Keoghan was this smooth? He’s always played such weirdos — the creepy, pasta-eating teen in The Killing of a Sacred Deer, the little thief who drives Dev Patel to tears in The Green Knight — that I guess I never noticed. So thank you, Chloé Zhao, for opening my eyes and for personally ensuring that his bangs never budged from his forehead. Keoghan’s energy paired with Ridloff’s kinetic charm is just so thrilling. Their stolen glances, their little shoulder punches and smiles; the matching leather jackets they wear in a mid-credits scene; even the way they rest their foreheads together is so emotionally charged, they don’t need to say a word. Their eyes just spill affection.
Imagine if Eternals had centered their relationship, or literally anyone’s apart from Sersi and Ikaris’s. Gilgamesh (Don Lee) and Thena (Angelina Jolie) share an intimacy more intense than theirs, and they never even kiss. Hell, even the hilarious rapport between Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo and Harish Patel as Karun is more magnetic.
So much of Eternals hinges on Sersi and her competing feelings for earthlings and for Ikaris. Yet when a devastated Ikaris flings himself into the sun at the end of the movie, the moment feels empty enough that not even Sersi seems to care much. But I’m relieved that their dim romance sorted itself out, to be honest. All one can hope is that it paves the way for a more passionate relationship between Chan and Harington’s Dane Whitman — and more importantly, more time for Druig and Makkari.
Vote for the Next MARVEL Puzzle Quest Character
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Abomination
“Abomination’s a reflection of the Hulk, an intelligent professor infused with impossible strength due to Gamma radiation. We’re excited to see how they face off against each other.”
Before he became Abomination, Emil Blonsky was a super spy with super smarts. Although he was able to maintain his normal level of self-control and intelligence after gaining his powers, he is unable to return to human form. Blaming his condition on Bruce Banner AKA The Hulk, Abomination remains one of the few who can lay claim to victory over the green-skinned goliath.
Read in: Hulk (2014) #2
Black Knight
“Seeing the King of New Avalon appear in Eternals inspired some great design ideas. This classic Avenger has a magical sword (The Ebony Blade), a number of advanced degrees in science, and has traveled through time.”
No stranger to the dark side, Dane Whitman is nephew to the villainous Nathan Garrett also known as the Black Knight. Summoned by his uncle who was mortally wounded in a battle with Iron Man, Dane took on the mantle of the Black Knight to restore honor to the family legacy.
Read in: Black Knight (2015) #1
Blink
“Monica Rambeau and Abigail Brand want to bring in more of the S.W.O.R.D. team, and mutant S.W.O.R.D. agent Blink is our favorite next choice. Her teleportation powers that she can manifest as javelins and spikes means she’s going to have some unique and deadly powers.”
Initially a timid, imprisoned mutant with the ability to warp time, Clarice Ferguson was given a second chance in a new reality. Now known as Blink, she uses her powers to fight massive enemies with the X-Men and Exiles. As someone experienced with elite squads and capable of tremendous powers, Blink is definitely someone who can be a gamechanger when brought in.
Read in: Exiles (2018) #1
Hercules
“This classic Greek-inspired hero has over 700 appearances in Marvel comics and is a literal immortal god of strength; how could we leave out Hercules?”
Hercules is the son of Zeus, king of the gods of Olympus, and Alcmena, a mortal woman who lived about three thousand years ago. Destined to be powerful enough to defend both the Olympian gods and humanity, Hercules was born with extraordinary strength that has inspired countless tales. An already historic character with the potential to shape history for years to come!
Read in: Hercules (2015) #1
Dani Moonstar
“A woman of Cheyenne descent, a Valkyrie, and a member of the New Mutants, Dani has used her powers of empathic illusions and psionic arrows with deadly precision. We’re excited for the chance to show how amazing she is.”
Danielle “Dani” Moonstar was one of the first members in Professor X’s New Mutants, and has continued to take on roles in other teams like the Fearless Defenders and Valkyrior. Known to be a beloved mentor to her students and a loyal member of any team she joins, Dani can project realistic illusions, communicate with animals, and create energy arrows which she wields expertly in battle.
Read in: New Mutants (2019) #17
Night Nurse
“This Marvel cheesecake character brilliantly evolved into an intelligent, fierce, snarky character. She is the NYC friend of heroes; every team needs a healer.”
Not every Super Hero is found on the battlefield, and the Night Nurse is every bit a hero as those she treats when they are wounded. It’s no understatement to say that many in the Marvel Universe owe her their lives. With her quick thinking and dauntless demeanor, Night Nurse is sure to be a valuable addition to any roster.
Read in: Night Nurse (1972) #1
Deathlok
“Deathlok the Demolisher has superhuman intelligence and fighting skills from his augments, and so has a number of different ways he could be designed, all of them deadly.”
A time-traveling cybernetic assassin, cyborg soldier extraordinaire Deathlok gets the job done by any means necessary. Luther Manning wasn’t just upgraded with robot parts – he was actually a dead soldier brought back to life by the far-from-moral Simon Ryker. Since then, a small army of dead folks have been brought back as Deathlok, bringing terror to all who are living!
Read in: Astonishing Tales (1970) #25
For more of each character, check out the reading list below highlighting each of the top candidates! Abomination, Black Knight, Blink, Dani Moonstar, Deathlok, Hercules, Night Nurse…Who will make their debut in MARVEL Puzzle Quest next?
Head to the polls to participate in the voting! Winners will be announced at a later date, so check back often!
Pick up Marvel Puzzle Quest here. Stay tuned to Marvel.com for Marvel Games news and interviews and follow Marvel Games on Twitter for more!
‘Eternals’ BTS Photos Give Best Look At Harry Styles’ Starfox
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The pop star is one of the latest to join the MCU!
New behind-the-scenes photos from Eternals give us our best look yet at Harry Styles as Starfox.
Marvel Studios’ Eternals hit theaters back in November, and although the film has received perhaps the most polarizing response from critics and audiences alike for any Marvel Cinematic Universe film, some fans were still pleasantly surprised by the film’s mid-credits scene, in which we are introduced to Eros AKA Starfox, the brother of Thanos played by Harry Styles.
Rumors regarding Harry Styles making his official debut into the MCU had been running wild on the internet months before Eternals was released, and to see him as Starfox in the mid-credits scene certainly got some fans excited for the character’s future. Now that the film is available to stream on Disney Plus, we are starting to get higher-quality looks at the pop star/actor in his suit.
On her official Instagram, Sersi actress Gemma Chan shared a slideshow of different images honoring the release of Eternals on Disney Plus. In two of these photos, we see her in costume alongside Harry Styles as Starfox. You can check it out via the post down below:
Here is the synopsis for Eternals:
The story takes place across two time periods. One storyline is set in the past when they operated as a formidable team and a close family unit. The second storyline is in the present, when the group has fractured and split apart, content to live among humans, hiding in plain sight. The prevailing threat of the Deviants, which once again threatens the existence of mankind, means the Eternals need to put their differences aside and regroup.
Chloe Zhao directed Eternals from a script she co-wrote with Patrick Burleigh, Kaz Firpo, and Ryan Firpo. The cast of the Marvel Studios project includes Gemma Chan as Sersi, Richard Madden as Ikaris, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, Lia McHugh as Sprite, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos, Lauren Ridloff as Makkari, Barry Keoghan as Druig, Don Lee as Gilgamesh, Kit Harington as Dane Whitman, Salma Hayek as Ajak, Angelina Jolie as Thena and Harry Styles as Starfox.
Eternals is available to stream on Disney Plus will be available on home media formats on February 15. Stay tuned for all the latest news on the future of the film’s characters, including Harry Styles’ Starfox, and be sure to subscribe to Heroic Hollywood’s YouTube channel for more original video content!
Source: Instagram
Link Tank: A Scott Pilgrim Anime is Headed to Netflix
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“The scene sees Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman come dangerously close to wielding his family’s famed Ebony Blade for the first time, only to be stopped by the voice of an unseen stranger. Fortunately, it was revealed shortly after Eternals’ theatrical release that the scene’s mystery character is none other than Mahershala Ali’s Blade, who is set to appear in his MCU solo film sometime in the next few years.”
Read more at Inverse
No surprise here: Squid Game was the most-watched show on Netflix in 2021, but by how much?
“Piecing together the most-watched Netflix series every year is always a bit dicey with how the streamer releases its data. For instance, they’d previously been using a model with metrics that depended on households that watched a particular movie or TV show. But watched is a loose term that seemed to mean anyone who clicked play on a title regardless of if they made it 10 seconds into the material or backed out because they had selected the wrong program.”
Read more at Mental Floss
The next great horror-comedy could be on its way… from the Foo Fighters?
‘Eternals’: Gemma Chan Confirms She Will Play Sersi Again, ‘Marvel Owns Us for Life’
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Marvel’s Eternals opened to mixed reviews from critics and fans, but many agree that they want to see the film’s remaining characters in future movies. The Marvel Cinematic Universe film didn’t exactly tie up all of its stories in a neat bow, so it would make sense if there were a sequel or crossovers. And, thankfully, Gemma Chan has stated that her Eternals character will return sometime in the future.
Gemma Chan | Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Annabel’s
Gemma Chan played Sersi in ‘Eternals’
Sersi, played by Gemma Chan, is one of 10 new superheroes introduced in Marvel’s Eternals. She is one of the Eternals, and she can manipulate and transform matter through physical contact. From the beginning of the film, it’s clear that she is very empathetic, which is why she forms strong connections with humans.
Sersi and Ikaris, another Eternal, fall in love after the Celestials send them to Earth to protect it from the Deviants. However, after the Eternals defeat the rest of the Deviants, Sersi and Ikaris go their separate ways. In the present day, Sersi works as a museum curator in London and is dating Dane Whitman.
Sersi and the rest of the Eternals learn that their mission was not to fight the Deviants but to get Earth ready for the “Emergence,” which is the birth of a new Celestial. The event would wipe out all humans, so most of the Eternals, including Sersi, agree to try to stop it. Unfortunately, Ikaris knew of the “Emergence” for hundreds of years, and he betrays Sersi in attempting to stop her.
In the end, Sersi and her team prevent the “Emergence” from happening. And, due to his guilt, Ikaris kills himself by flying into the sun. Later, the Celestial, Arishem, drags Sersi, Phastos, and Kingo into space. He tells them that if their memories prove that humans are worth saving, he will spare their lives and humanity. So, it’s a good thing that Gemma Chan is not done playing her Eternals character because fans need closure.
Gemma Chan admitted that she will reprise her ‘Eternals’ character in the future
During an interview with W Magazine, Eternals star Gemma Chan discussed her career and role in the Marvel film. When asked if she would play Sersi again, Chan responded, “Yes. Marvel owns us for life. [Laughs].”
Unfortunately, Chan didn’t expand on that revelation. So, either she’s unsure which movie Sersi will appear in next, or Marvel is keeping her involvement under wraps. Whatever the case may be, fans will be happy to hear that they will get closure regarding Sersi’s story in the MCU.
In the interview, Gemma Chan also revealed what it was like playing a god in Eternals. She said, “It was interesting. In Eternals, she starts out shy and then discovers her power as a leader. That was fun.”
Marvel has yet to announce a sequel for ‘Eternals’
An Eternals sequel would be the most plausible theory regarding which MCU movie Gemma Chan will play Sersi in next. Although many rumors say that a sequel is in development, Marvel has not confirmed the project.
Aside from Chan’s comments during the W Magazine interview, Salma Hayek also mentioned in Smallzy’s Celebrity Small Talk Podcast that she could return as Ajak in the MCU. Hayek said, “I did sign multiple movie deals. It was kind of fun being part of this … secret society that you have to protect so fearlessly.”
But, during an interview with Elle, Chloé Zhao denied any notion of a sequel. She said, “You know, I was very encouraged to make a good standalone film and nothing further. With this specific film, let’s put everything on the table and see what happens.”
Eternals, starring Gemma Chan, is now available to stream on Disney+.
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