Marvel's Eternals Movie Just Took A Big Step Forward

Although Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has been delayed due to the behind-the-scenes James Gunn debacle, make no mistake, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will still be delving deeper into its cosmic corners in Phase 4 and beyond. Earlier this year, it was reported one of the other ways this will happen is through an Eternals movie, centered on the group of near-immortal, powerful beings that have been important players in the Marvel Comics universe for years. Now The Eternals has taken a big step towards becoming a reality, as Chloe Zao has been tapped to direct it.

Best known for directing The Rider and Songs My Brother Taught Me, Chloe Zhao was previously in the running to direct the Black Widow movie. Cate Shortland ultimately scored that job, but THR dropped the news that Zhao has now been selected to helm The Eternals. Marvel Studios' search for a director to handle the project reportedly in the last few weeks of summer, with other finalists including Nicole Kassell, Travis Knight and duo Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra. In the end, Zhao came out on top, and she will be working off a script written by Matthew and Ryan Firpo, whose spec script Ruin made it onto the 2017 Black List.

Created by Jack Kirby and introduced in 1976, the Eternals were created as the result of the Celestials experimenting on ancient humans, though these experiments also churned out the monstrous Deviants. The Eternals' bodies are infused with cosmic energy that makes them immune from diseases and poison, invulnerable from most weaponry and able to regenerate the few times they are injured provided the mental control over their bodies isn't disrupted. This same cosmic energy can also be channeled into special abilities like super strength, flight, generating illusions and mind control.

While Marvel is understandably keeping quiet about The Eternals' plot right now, sources told THR that along with depicting the conflict between the Eternals and the Deviants, this movie will also show the love story between Ikaris and Seris, the latter of whom "relishes moving amongst humans." It's also worth noting that one of the more important characters in the Eternals mythos is Thanos, who recently made a name for himself by wiping out half of all life in the universe. It remains to be seen if The Eternals will be set after Avengers 4 or, like Captain America: The First Avenger and Captain Marvel, will be a prequel to the modern day MCU. If it's the latter, then perhaps we not only might see a younger Thanos, but also meet his parents, Mentor and Sui-San, and his grandfather, Kronos, who led a rebellion against his war-loving brother Uranos long ago.

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates on what's happening with The Eternals. For now, feel free to look through our Marvel movies guide to learn what other cinematic projects are in development for the MCU.