Following a quick glimpse at the beginning of May, Marvel Studios has released a longer teaser for Eternals, which is set to hit theaters on November 5. The film will be the third in Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and is being directed by Oscar winner Chloe Zhao.
The trailer is fairly light on plot details, instead introducing the Eternals and revealing they’ve been guiding humanity for a millennia.
“We watched and guided,” a voiceover says. “We have helped them progress and seen them accomplish wonders. Throughout the year, we have never interfered — until now.”
It’s unclear what kind of threat is finally prompting the Eternals to interfere, but we have an idea. In the comics, the Eternals are created by the Celestials, giant beings who go around the universe performing experiments. Those who didn’t quite take to the experiments were known as Deviants; it could be that the Deviants make it their mission to destroy earth, and the Eternals vow to stop them.
That’s just a guess on our part. Since no real plot details are revealed, the teaser trailer mostly establishes the cast of heroes, which includes Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Ridloff, Barry Keoghan, Don Lee, Angelina Jolie, and Salma Hayek. We also get a glimpse at Kit Harington, who is reportedly playing Black Knight, aka Dane Whitman.
What’ll be interesting is to see how the Eternals weave their way into the larger MCU narrative. If they were here to defend earth this whole time, why didn’t they appear when Thanos showed up? There is a reference to Captain America and Iron Man, so clearly they know about the events that took place in Avengers: Endgame.
Before the Eternals hits theaters on November 5, Marvel Studios is set to release Black Widow on July 9 and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings on September 3.