Eternals was released as part of Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and introduced a new bunch of superheroes for the first time. The Eternals are a group of ancient aliens who lived among the humans for thousands of centuries, protecting Earth from their adversaries, the Deviants. Eternals was helmed by the Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao.
The film saw an ensemble cast joining Marvel including Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Kit Harrington, and others. In 2023, the studio released Marvel Studios’ Eternals: The Art of the Movie, which details the behind-the-scenes insights and in-depth interviews with the creative team.
What Makes Eternals Different From Avengers?
Eternals was released to an audience who were not ready to let go of the Earthly superheroes, the Avengers. The film received mixed reviews and drew criticism for its screenplay and pacing. While the movie was visually stunning, it became one of the lowest-grossing MCU films, earning $402 million worldwide at the box office. But Eternals has got far more potential than the Avengers and in the recently released book, Marvel Executives explains why.
According to the Execs, Eternals was a challenging movie to make. Firstly, it had to be different from what Avengers was. While it had a different treatment of the theme, the film also aimed for visuals unprecedented in other Marvel movies. Secondly, unlike Avengers, which established each superhero before teaming them up, this movie introduced all superheroes in a single movie.
Eternals definitely turned out to be nothing like the Avengers. In fact, the team of super-aliens possessed the power to pool their energy to make each member more powerful than their current self. While the Avengers worked so well because of their teamwork, the alien superheroes fought their ultimate villain with the help of their combined minds or Uni-Mind. This makes them more powerful than the entire Avengers put together.
Also Read: Top 5 Worst Marvel Movies: Black Panther and Chris Hemsworth’s Thor is Surprisingly in the List
How Does The Uni-Mind Work For The Eternals?
Marvel Executives explained the aspect of Uni-Mind and how the concept was portrayed in the film. The Uni-Mind worked like an “amplification device” which could enhance each of the members’ superpowers. According to the Executives, when the team pooled their energy, Makkari could run faster than ever and Druig could control every mind on earth. Nate Moore, a studio executive, shared in the book (via The Direct):
“The Uni-Mind allows the Eternals to amplify the power of any single Eternal. However, they all must be somewhat connected to do so. They can’t be on opposite sides of the world and create a Uni-Mind – they must be in proximity of each other. But it could allow Makkari to run faster than ever. It could let Druig control every mind on a planet. It is an amplification device but requires the power of all the Eternals together.”
The Uni-Mind also justified the direct team-up movie, instead of standalone introductions for the characters. It also could be one of the continuing themes if the studio moves forward with another movie. However, Marvel’s plans for a sequel are currently unclear, and fans will have to wait to see if the characters appear in any of the other Marvel projects announced.
The Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek starrer is now available for streaming on Disney+. Fans could also enjoy the book, Marvel Studios’ Eternals: The Art of the Movie, which is now available for sale.
Source: The Direct
