By Zach Johnson
Marvel Studios’ Eternals introduces a group of heroes from beyond the stars—and on Monday night, the film’s stars introduced fans to their characters at the world premiere! Cast members Angelina Jolie, Gemma Chan, Salma Hayek, Brian Tyree Henry, Don Lee, Richard Madden, Lia McHugh, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, and Kit Harington joined director and screenwriter Chloé Zhao; producers Kevin Feige and Nate Moore; executive producers Louis D’Esposito and Victoria Alonso; and screenwriters Ryan Firpo, Kaz Firpo, and Patrick Burleigh on the blue carpet in Hollywood to celebrate the third film in Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) before it opens in theaters on November 5, 2021.
“I really think this is a beautiful film,” Jolie, who plays Thena, told reporters. “I love this cast, and I am so happy to come here tonight and see everybody and be together. It’s nice.”
Nanjiani, who plays Kingo, said he was “very excited” to see Eternals with an audience. “The Marvel fans are probably some of the best fans,” he said on the blue carpet. “It’s awesome, because I just walked in and saw so many people dressed up as characters from the movie. The movie’s not even out yet! That’s how much they trust and know the movie is going to be awesome. They already love these characters, even though they haven’t met them yet.”
In the highly anticipated film, the Eternals are forced to reunite in order to defend humanity yet again after the Deviants, monstrous creatures long thought lost to history, mysteriously return. “It’s an epic tale,” said Chan, who stars as Sersi. “It spans 7,000 years.”
Feige said getting to bring these cosmic characters to the MCU “really represents” what Marvel Studios has been working towards after the Infinity Saga concluded in 2019. “We always wanted to do a movie that spanned millennia and focused on immortals who have lived amongst us, and Eternals seemed like the greatest way to do that,” Feige explained. “It was when Nate brought in Chloé that we really decided, ‘We have to make this movie.’”
“I came into this as a filmmaker,” said Zhao, “but also as a fan.”
According to Moore, Zhao really delivered on her pitch. “Not only do you have 10 of the most interesting characters we’ve ever had, but some of the mythology in this movie is so breathtaking,” he said. As such, Moore predicts fans will “leave the theater really satisfied.”
“As with all MCU movies, there are surprises, there are twists, there are things you should stay till the very end to see,” added Feige. “What I’m most excited about, though, is the audience finally meeting these 10 Eternals that they’ve seen on posters around the world.”
Before Eternals opens in theaters November 5 (get your tickets now via Fandango), see more highlights from the premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood in the gallery below.
