Eternals Post-Credits Scene Fuels Theories About New Marvel Team
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The following post contains SPOILERS for Eternals.
The arrival of Eternals on Disney+ has fans speculating once again — or maybe for the first time, since a lot of Marvel fans skipped Eternals in theaters — about the movie’s enigmatic post-credits scene. (Not to be confused with the film’s similarly confusing mid-credits scene, which introduces Harry Styles’ Eros and Patton Oswalt’s Pip the troll.)
In the final post-credits scene, Kit Harington’s Dane Whitman, who has spent most of the movie acting like a mild-mannered English dude, stands alone in an office with a mysterious case. He opens it, revealing a sword wrapped in bloody bandages. Unintelligible whispers fill the soundtrack, as if some kind of ancient power or presence is calling out to Dane. An inscription carved into the inside of the case reads “Mors mihi lucrum” — death is my reward. Sounds like a totally normal and chill sword!
Dane paces around the room, then goes to touch the sword, which releases tiny little waves of power that seem to reach out to him in return. Just as he’s about to grab the blade, a voice calls out to him from off-camera: “Sure you’re ready for that, Mr. Whitman?” Dane turns to see who it is and there’s a sudden cut to black and the words “Eternals will return…” (Not the Eternals, just Eternals. They’re like the band Eagles. Don’t ever call them The Eagles, because that’s not their name. They’re just Eagles.)
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The voice speaking to Dane Whitman is uncredited in the film, and it’s such a brief appearance that the first audiences to see Eternals weren’t entirely sure who it even was. On Disney+, the subtitles only refer to the voice as “Mysterious Man.” But we now know that it belongs to Mahershala Ali, who has been announced as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Blade the Vampire Hunter.
The Dane Whitman of Marvel Comics — who’s also known as the superhero the Black Knight — doesn’t have a ton of history with Blade. But generally when a character shows up in a Marvel post-credits scene, they’re not just there for a gratuitous cameo; the appearance is meant to set up future appearances, establish connections between heroes, and often to tease future team-ups. And that has got fans wondering where Blade and Black Knight will show up next.
A lot of speculation is focused around the MCU’s Blade starting a group of supernatural heroes called the Midnight Suns. First introduced in the 1990s, the original comic book Midnight Suns were a loose collection of heroes including Ghost Rider, Johnny Blaze (the original Ghost Rider at a time when he’d been freed of his skeleton-headed curse), Morbius (the vampire played by Jared Leto in his upcoming solo film), the Darkhold Redeemers (various magic-inclined heroes who defended the Darkhold, an all-powerful occult book that was seen in the possession of Wanda at the end of WandaVision), and a group of vampire hunters that included Blade called the Nightstalkers.
There’s also a video game in the works called Marvel’s Midnight Suns that features Blade and Ghost Rider, alongside other Marvel heroes like Wolverine, Iron Man, Captain America, and Captain Marvel. So it seems entirely feasible that Marvel could be setting the groundwork for some kind of Midnight Suns movie or Disney+ series that would feature Blade, Black Knight, Doctor Strange, Ghost Rider, and perhaps a few other characters like Wanda Maximoff.
It could be quite a while until we know Blade’s motives for sure. While Marvel is working on a solo Blade movie for Mahershala Ali, it’s yet to receive an official release date. Despite what that final title card promised, Eternals 2 hasn’t been officially announced yet either. The next Marvel Cinematic Universe movie is Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and it also features Wanda Maximoff, so it could provide us the next clues about where all this magic sword stuff is headed. That film is currently scheduled to open in theaters on May 6, 2022.
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Moon Knight: Marvel’s Psychologically Tormented Batman Arrives in March
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In the ever-expanding MCU, say hello to a new character who is all set to begin the darker Marvel universe. Disney Plus’ upcoming series Moon Knight just released its first trailer after we saw glimpses of it months ago. So, if you are wondering who or what this white costumed Batman exactly is, we are here to guide you through it. Here’s everything you need to know about Marvel’s Moon Knight.
Release Date and Trailer
First of all, Marvel’s Moon Knight is all set to release on 30th March, 2022 as displayed at the end of the trailer. The trailer was released just hours ago and you can check it out by clicking on the link above. From what it appears, it seems to be a psychological horror series with Marvelish hilarity where Oscar Isaac seems to be suffering from some supernatural phenomenon.
When the character finally appears, it gives viewers a very Pattinson Batman vibes. He is seen beating someone to their bones without mercy. Also, just like Batman’s batrangs, he throws and uses Crescent darts. He is a dark vigilante who is dressed in white but in reality, he is quite different from Batman. From the trailer, it seems like Marvel will stick to the source material for this character and that would be for the best. The costume in the trailer looked amazing and so did Oscar Isaac’s chaotic and tormented Marc Spector.
A Darker Marvel Universe Begins
It was about time MCU embraced Marvel Comics’ darker and supernatural universe and ever since Eternals, they have been trying to do so. Moon Knight would be the first dark and supernatural character in MCU, which will lay foundations for the other characters to join him. We all know that Marvel’s Blade starring Mahershala Ali is all set to debut on the big screen towards the end of the year.
In fact, we already heard Mahershala Ali’s Blade’s voice in the Eternals’ post-credit scene. Also, Eternals didn’t just introduce us to Blade, but also to Kit Harrington’s Black Knight. He was just about to pick the Black Knight Sword before Blade interrupted him in the post-credits. So, it is entirely possible that Blade appears in Moon Knight to possibly recruit him for some supernatural war.
Moon Knight is great news for the fans of the darker Marvel multiverse and we might see Marvel’s Midnight Sons in the future. We’ll be back with a detailed article about the Midnight Sons, Blade, and the role of Moon Knight in all of it. So, stay tuned!
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Blade: Mustafa Ali wants to be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
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Mansoor (bottom) competes with Mustafa Ali during the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Crown Jewel pay-per-view in the Saudi capital Riyadh on October 21, 2021. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP) (Photo by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP via Getty Images)
Mustafa Ali wants to be part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Marvel should make it happen.
Marvel Studios has done a fantastic job of casting actors in movies and TV shows but in recent years, the studio has taken great steps to highlight the importance of representation as well.
The most recent example of excellent casting has to be Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez. She is an indigenous, deaf woman playing a character with those same characteristics. A move by Marvel showing that they care about representation. An open casting brought her to an audition that landed her the role in Hawkeye and then gave her the platform to star in her own series (Echo).
A casting call for Blade has now surfaced online and it revealed that the production was casting for a South Asian male in their 20s to 30s. It also stated that the actor must be open to training but that those with fight experience are encouraged for the role. As for who this character is, the character description reads: “Though he’s taken a vow of silence, his eyes tell us he has been through strife”.
The role has not been cast yet but WWE Superstar Mustafa Ali has answered that call, taking to both Twitter and Instagram to let Marvel know that he wants the part. He tweeted:
Mustafa Ali is perfect for the role in Blade
Mustafa Ali (whose real name is Adeel Alam) would be perfect for this role – so much so, in fact, that this writer believes Marvel Studios shouldn’t even bother looking elsewhere. Mustafa Ali is the actor they’re looking for.
Fans of the WWE have seen Ali go through a couple of changes throughout his WWE career. Recently, he’s been in the heel (antagonist) role. Before that, he was a babyface (protagonist). During his babyface days, Ali didn’t speak much. He let his actions and in-ring work do the talking for him and he was great at it. As a heel, however, he talks more. He has a knack for making the crowd boo him (even if he’s right at times). However, he’s still fantastic at getting a point across without saying a word.
In terms of the action, Mustafa Ali is one of the best in-ring performers in wrestling. He takes his job seriously and it shows. A personal favorite are the clips he posts on Instagram of his training. You can see why his moves are always so smooth, fluid, and crisp. If he’s this good without a stunt double, imagine what he would do in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Make it happen, Marvel Studios!
What do you think? Would you like to see Mustafa Ali in Blade? Let us know in the comments below.
8 Street Level Marvel Heroes Who Could Show Up In Moon Knight
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Marvel Studios’ upcoming Moon Knight starring Oscar Isaac is easily one of the most anticipated shows of the year. Considered to be one of the most complex characters who often borders the line of hero and anti-hero, Moon Knight is not for the faint-hearted. Though it’s yet to be seen how the show will turn out, Moon Knight can easily pave the path for new street-level heroes or bring in some familiar faces to the fold once again. Here are 8 street-level Marvel heroes who could show up in the series.
Related: Kevin Feige Has High Hopes With MCU’s Moon Knight, Say Oscar Isaac
- The Punisher
After bringing back Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin in Hawkeye, it is only a matter of time before we see Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle on the screen once again. Considering both Moon Knight and the Punisher’s propensity towards violence, it makes a lot of sense that both the characters have a brief face-off in the series.
- Daredevil
Related: New Fan Art Shows Daredevil & Moon Knight Team Up In The MCU
Since his brief appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home, the burning question is when will Charlie Cox’s Daredevil make his next appearance? However, as both Moon Knight and Daredevil both have a darker and mature storyline as compared to other Marvel superheroes, it would be great to see both of them team-up, or exchange blows depending on Moon Knight’s temperament.
- Echo
After making her first appearance in Hawkeye, Echo switched allegiance and apparently took down Kingpin in the series finale. As it’s unclear what lies ahead of the Native-American hero with a hearing disability, she can also appear briefly in the upcoming Moon Knight series.
- Hawkeye
The aging superhero might not return as an Avenger, but Clint Barton still has enough fight in him to keep the streets safe. As a mentor to Kate Bishop, Hawkeye has now become a street-level superhero in the MCU. Considering the violent methods Moon Knight uses to fight his enemies, Hawkeye might be roped in to keep a tab on the anti-hero.
- Werewolf by Night
Moon Knight made his first appearance in Werewolf by Night #32 back in 1975 which makes a lot of sense to introduce Werewolf by Night in the series. With Gael Garcia Bernal already cast for an undisclosed Disney+ special, it won’t be surprising to see the superhero making his first appearance in the series.
- Ghost Rider
Related: Ghost Rider: 10 Actors Who Could Play The Role In MCU
As one of the most popular anti-heroes of Marvel Comics, Ghost Rider is yet to make his appearance in the MCU. As Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was recently considered to be non-canon, it is highly unlikely that Gabriel Luna’s Robbie Reyes will be returning anytime soon. Nevertheless, Moon Knight will be an interesting premise to bring back the flaming skull to the fold. As both the characters have gained enhanced powers from supernatural entities, the show can be the perfect platform to bring back this fan-favorite superhero.
- Iron Fist
Sure, Netflix’s Iron Fist did not live up to the expectations set by shows like Daredevil or Jessica Jones. But it does deserve a second chance to redeem itself. Though most fans would think that the tonality of Moon Knight and Iron Fist doesn’t really resonate, bringing back another billionaire into the MCU is still very much on the cards. At this point, Marvel Studios has mastered the art of dropping easter eggs and Danny Rand definitely deserves another shot at redemption, even through a brief cameo.
- Blade
Related: Blade Theory: Blade Is After Wanda’s Darkhold For The Montesi Formula – Spell That Kills All Vampires
The vampire-killer might be all set to appear on the big screen, but it actually makes much more sense to introduce Blade in the upcoming Moon Knight series. As the MCU is gradually moving towards the realms of the supernatural, introducing Blade in the show can actually pave the way for Midnight Sons, considering that both Moon Knight and Blade are members of the group. With so much violence being expected from the series, fans surely won’t mind some slick vampire on vampire action.
Moon Knight is set to be released on Disney+ in 2022.
Moon Knight could be leading directly into Marvel’s scary version of the Avengers
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Moon Knight could be leading directly into Marvel’s scary version of the Avengers
Lots of references to Fight Club, Black Swan and even The Batman…
In case you missed it, Disney+ released the first trailer for their next MCU show, Moon Knight.
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It tells the story of Steven Grant (Oscar Isaac), a former soldier who seems to be suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder, finding it increasingly difficult to separate his dreams from reality.
One of his personalities appears to be imbued with the powers of an Egyptian God, which somehow causes him to cross paths with Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke), a cult-leader who tries to get Grant to embrace his inner dark side.
Check out the trailer here:
Clip via Marvel Entertainment
Early on in the trailer, there are very interesting visual cues as to the kind of vibe this particular Marvel story will be telling. Aside from the “one of the personalities is a super-powered individual” being pretty much identical to the plot of M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller Split (which Moon Knight predates in the comics by about 40 years), other examples include:
- Grant suffering from insomnia, causing some split personality issues (Fight Club)
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Different versions of Grant watching him move while his reflection remains in place (Black Swan)
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Moon Knight going absolutely HAM on some unseen humanoid punching bag (The Batman)
Meanwhile, Ethan Hawke has already discussed that this portrayal of Arthur Harrow was specifically based on David Koresh, the man at the centre of the cult involved in the Waco siege in 1993.
All much more adult-aimed references than usual for a Marvel show, but it also points towards a future union of what could be Marvel’s scary answer to the Avengers.
As we see in the trailer, Grant is working in a London museum, where he is getting somewhat bullied by a co-worker.
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We see that the museum is currently housing some ancient Egyptian artefacts (which will undoubtedly awaken one of Grant’s personalities), but - AND SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN’T WATCHED ETERNALS YET - who else happens to be working in a London museum?
Kit Harrington’s Dane Whitman, who in the post-credits scene in Eternals, reveals to be the owner of the Ebony Blade, which makes him the Black Knight within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Also, during that same post-credits sequence, we hear a character talk to Whitman from off-screen, and it has since been confirmed that was the voice of Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali, who is taking on the role of Blade within the MCU.
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With all of these characters all apparently in London (and all apparently working at museums), it looks very strongly like Marvel are piecing together the Marvel Knights, which at different times throughout the comics history has featured Moon Knight, Blade and Black Knight, along with Shang-Chi, Black Panther, Daredevil… and Wolverine.
Are we saying that Moon Knight could potentially lead to the introduction of the X-Men to the MCU? No.
Are we saying that we want Moon Knight to introduce the X-Men to the MCU? Yes, absolutely we are.
Moon Knight kicks off on Disney+ from Wednesday, 30 March.
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