‘The Eternals’ is one of the only movies post-‘Avengers 4’ that is confirmed by Marvel Studios. It’s also one of the biggest question marks, as it’s possibly the most obscure group of characters yet to be placed front and center in their own film. Chloé Zhao is set to direct this picture, about a group of god-like beings originally created by Jack Kirby and introduced in 1976. The concept was revisited by Neil Gaiman in 2006, while a few of the characters have popped up elsewhere, including as members of the Avengers.
Now it appears that Marvel has decided which of the multitude of characters will be included in the film. The first two characters are a bit of a mystery, but here are their descriptions. The others are lifted from the comics.
Karen
“The studio is looking to cast an actress in her early 30s for the role of KAREN. Open to any nationality or ethnicity particularly Middle Eastern, African and Native American. Powerful, a timeless quality, a leader. Warm, nurturing and intuitive… AKA she can kick- ass but had warmth. Should have an international/ timeless feel.”- Male Lead
“An unknown male described only as a Greek God.”
In the comics, ‘The Eternals’ have been mistaken for gods and many have names and powers that correspond to ancient gods. During their history, they have interacted with the real gods, so that could be depicted in the film. In the comics, Hercules is the most notable of the Greek/Roman gods presented, so it’s possible that Marvel will use this to bring him into the film universe.
Druig
It appears the villain of ‘Eternals’ will be Druig, a character created by Kirby but who really gained notoriety in the Gaiman miniseries. Like all Eternals, he has the typical abilities to manipulate energy and matter, including his own body, allowing him to shapeshift. He can teleport, fly, and mentally control others. Working as a KGB agent, he discovered a fondness for torture. He planned to use a device known only as “the Weapon” to kill Ziran the Tester, but Ikaris disintegrated him before he could act on his plan.
Piper
“The studio is looking to cast a lead female, 10-16 years old of any nationality or ethnicity in the role of ‘Piper’… Strong, charismatic presence with a magnetic personality. Wise beyond her years, articulate and quick-witted. Natural acting ability and some type of athletic background a plus. Though it’s not clear here, it seems that this might be the studio taking a new slant on the Eternal known as Sprite. “
Elysius
Marvel is looking for an actress, 20-40, for the surprising role of Elysius, an artificial life form programmed to possess the abilities of an Eternal. She had a romance with Captain Mar-Vell and aided him and Drax against ISAAC and other evil forces. She commands griffin-like creatures that she controls with telepathy.
Forgotten One
Despite his name, The Forgotten One is one of the better known Eternals, having served as a member of the Avengers. He is also based on the ancient epic poem, ‘Gilgamesh’, another name he goes by.
The studio is looking for a male, ages 25-45. “Gilgamesh became an outcast from his fellow Eternals when their ruler, Zuras, decreed that he had been too proud a meddler in the human world and confined him to a sector of Olympus. He was eventually convinced to come out of exile and journey to the mother-ship of the Fourth Host of the Celestials to assist the Eternals in the battle against the Deviants by the Eternal called Sprite. He possesses a number of super-human abilities common to the Eternals, but has trained some of them far beyond the norm. The Forgotten One is one of the most accomplished hand-to-hand combatants among the Eternals and usually arms himself with simple hand weapons such as an ax, spear or club.”
Ikaris
Ikaris is perhaps the most well-known of the Eternals. For his role, the studio is seeking a male actor from 20-40. “His lifeforce is augmented with Cosmic energy and he has total mental control over his physical form and bodily processes even when he is asleep or unconscious. He has low-level psychic abilities, enabling him to scan the superficial thoughts of any mind, less adapt them to his own. He can mentally create illusions as to describe himself.”
Makkari
Makkari is perhaps the first Eternal to interact with the human population, as he impersonated the Roman god Mercury and even operated as the superhero Mercury in the 1940s. He is also a genius inventor and uses his skills to build high-speed vehicles. The studio is seeking an actor between 25-45 for this role.
Sersi
It was previously stated that a romance between Sersi and Ikaris would be at the heart of this movie. Like Makkari, Sersi has had recorded interactions with humans, as the witch Circe from Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’. She can manipulate matter, most frequently turning humans into animals. She was also a member of the Avengers for many years, mainly in the 1990s.
The story is seeking a female actor between 20-40. According to her description, “Sersi is a fourth generation member of the Eternals. She differs from her fellow Eternals in her desire to live amongst humans. She does not age and can only be killed if her atoms are scattered.”
Starfox
Also known as Eros, Starfox was a member of the Avengers and is the brother of Thanos. It remains to be seen if this familial connection is made in the movie. Marvel is looking for an actor between 25-45 for this role. In addition to the traditional Eternal powers, Eros is known for having the ability to mentally manipulate others, typically in the sense that he can convince others to fall in love with or have sex with him. When he uses this power on others, their sensation is similar to feeling intoxicated.
In the comics, Eros, Thanos, and others were members of the Eternal race who had left Earth behind thousands of years ago, and settled on Saturn’s moon Titan, but in the films, it appears that Titan is an actual planet.
While still living on Earth, Eros impersonated the Greek god of Love, also known as Eros.
Thena
Thena impersonated the Greek goddess Athena. Her name was original Azura but was changed by her father Zuras for a pact sealed between the Eternals and the Greek gods.
“Thena became a scholar and a warrior as she grew. Like all Eternals, she has superhuman strength, speed, stamina, durability, agility, and reflexes. Thena also possesses the ability to manipulate cosmic energy to augment her life force, granting her virtual invulnerability and immortality, the ability to project cosmic energy from her eyes or hands in the form of heat, light, or concussive force and possibly other powers. Thena has total mental control over her physical form, granting virtual invulnerability and immortality. She also has the ability to levitate herself and thus fly at superhuman speed, the psionic ability to rearrange the molecular structure of objects, the ability to cast illusions to disguise her appearance and that of others from the perceptions of normal human beings, the ability to teleport herself and others with her, and the ability to initiate formation of the Uni-Mind.
“She carries a bow that fires arrows that release “cold energy”, and she carries an energy spear that surrounds victims with a ring of intense heat and light or bombards them with anti-gravitons.”
The actor playing her must be between 20-40 years old.
Zuras
“Zuras was born in Titanos, first city of the Eternals, and is the son of the Eternals Kronos and Daina, and brother of A’Lars (Mentor). With his wife Cybele, he has a daughter Thena. Zuras was a warrior and vied with his brother A’lars (whom he exiled into space) for leadership of the Eternals of Titanos following Kronos’ death. Zuras was the first Eternal to form a Uni-Mind by creating the first ritual of the Uni-Mind, and was therefore chosen to become leader of the Eternals of Earth.”
Zuras was used as a substitute for Zeus. Essentially, he is the most powerful and wisest of the Eternals.
‘The Eternals’ might not be as well-known as many other Marvel properties, but the same could be said of the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ just a few short years ago. If they managed to make movie stars out of Rocket Raccoon and Groot, there’s no reason they can’t do the same with ‘The Eternals’.
‘The Eternals’ is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 1, 2020.
Source: That Hashtag Show
