The MCU should reverse the Avengers model for the Eternals

Assembling the Avengers has been a successful move for the MCU, but the formula would have to be turned around in Phase 4 with the Eternals to keep the narrative fresh.

Unlike the epic team of The Avengers, the next Eternals should dismantle its main characters. Phase 4 will feature several new heroes, starting with the Eternals, an ancient race of alien deities who influenced the evolution of humans centuries ago. Most of them have been inactive for thousands of years, with only Thanos being a notable example of their race since their demise. After the Mad Titan is defeated, the return of the deviant villains will force them to resurface.

The MCU has thrived primarily because of its sense of interconnectivity, which was first brought to the fore in 2012 when Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Black Widow, and Hawkeye teamed up to fight Loki in The Avengers. Since then, superhero teams have become a common phenomenon and a major selling point of superhero movies. These days, the MCU remains the trailblazer when it comes to this genre, and Phase 4 aims to shake the landscape again. Along with the endless opportunities the multiverse can offer, a change in the formula for ensemble films would also help Marvel keep its Cinematic Universe fresh.

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The upcoming phases of the MCU are already too crowded for the Eternals to behave like the Avengers. Phase 4 will feature several MCU teams such as the Young Avengers, Fantastic Four, and Thunderbolts in addition to the already established Guardians of the Galaxy and remaining members of the Avengers. It would not be an obstacle for autonomy Eternals movies, but the problem arises when they start to cross paths with other MCU teams. The Eternals would take up a considerable portion of an ensemble movie’s screen time compared to individual characters or smaller teams. Therefore, they should go their separate ways during their introductory film, given that their story already allows for a great potential conflict to make their breakup interesting.

A split would also be a compelling tragedy. Perhaps killing one or more of the Eternals would underline how the universe has become so dangerous that such powerful entities can no longer keep up with it, along with the immense power of the culprit (and erect them into the future big bad). The MCU could present the Eternals as virtually invincible, only to reveal that they can’t even compare to the looming threat of the MCU’s next Thanos. In that case, it would be obvious why characters with more complex abilities like Scarlet Witch and Doctor Strange are so essential going forward.

Tearing down the Eternals would flip the MCU narrative. This would show that The AvengersThe successful first team was a miracle rather than the norm, and would make the original Avengers more commendable for achieving it. Additionally, it would help each of the Eternals diversify and develop their own history, preparing them for future crossbreeds. James gunn’s The suicide squad aims to make every member of Task Force X truly vulnerable. Marvel could improve this formula by Eternals doing so with the almost omnipotent deities of the MCU.

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