Kit Harington to star in 'The Eternals'
Lyla Films

Prior to the D23 Expo, unconfirmed rumors surfaced that ‘Game of Thrones” Kit Harington was headed to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  Now, at D23, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed that Harington will indeed appear in Chloé Zhao’s ‘Eternals’, and his casting is damn near perfect!  He won’t actually be one of the titular Eternals.  He’s playing Dane Whitman, a.k.a. the Black Knight.  (Although he was just referred to as “Dane Whitman,” so he may not appears as the Black Knight in this film.)

Marvel Studios/Disney

Also announced at D23 were the casting of Gemma Chan as Sersi, and Barry Keoghan as the sinister Druig.  Chan was previously rumored to be in talks, but this confirms her casting.  As fans may recall, she played Minn-Erva in ‘Captain Marvel’, but was obscured by blue makeup.  This makes her the first actor to play two separate roles within the MCU.

The cast already included: Salma Hayek as “the wise and spiritual leader Ajak”; Brian Tyree Henry as inventor Phastos; Angelina Jolie as the warrior Thena; Don Lee as Gilgamesh the Forgotten One; Richard Madden as the dashing Ikaris; Lia McHugh as “the eternally young, old-soul Sprite”; Kumail Nanjiani as the showy Kingo; and Lauren Ridloff, as the super-fast Makkari, who will be the first deaf Marvel Cinematic superhero.  (Yes, I know Hawkeye is deaf in the comics, but they don’t follow that in the movies.)

Chan’s character, Sersi is one of the most prominent Eternals in the comics, and served as a member Avengers, where she was engaged in a lengthy romance with Dane Whitman, so it is fairly likely that there will be sparks between Chan and Harington in the film.

She has the same wide range of cosmic powers as the rest of the Eternals with a particular fondness for matter transmutation, particularly turning people into animals.  She was the inspiration for Circe from the ancient Greek poem ‘The Odyssey’.

Marvel

Dane Whitman is a descendant of the legendary Black Knight of Camelot, and has used both magical and scientific weaponry.  His most famous weapon is the Excaliber-like Ebony Blade.  However, after using it for several years, he discovered it was cursed.  He replaced it with a lightsabre-like energy sword.  Most recently, he has been armed with the Shield of Night and the Sword of Light.  The Shield absorbs the energy directed against him, which he can then channel through the Sword.

So, Harington has gone from one sword-slinging role to another.

For a period of time, he rode a mechanical “steed” which resembled a rocket-powered saddle, but he is more often seen riding a winged horse.  His first, a white steed named Aragorn was given to Valkyrie, and was seen in ‘Avengers: Endgame’.  So yes, his horse made it into the MCU before he did.  He replaced Aragorn with a black steed, Valinor.  His most recent is called Strider, who possesses magical abilities that neither of the other two had.

One highlight at D23 was the appearance by most of the cast complete with concept art showing them in costume as their characters.  Check out the photo below:

‘Eternals’ is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 6, 2020.

 

Source: Deadline