ETERNALS Director Chloé Zhao Says Zack Snyder's MAN OF STEEL "Inspired Me The Most"

ETERNALS Director Chloé Zhao Says Zack Snyder's MAN OF STEEL "Inspired Me The Most"

While doing the rounds to promote Marvel's Eternals, Academy Award-winning director Chloe Zhao revealed that her take on Ikaris (Richard Madden) was directly inspired by Zack Snyder's Man of Steel.

By MarkCassidy - Nov 06, 2021 09:11 AM EST
Filed Under: Eternals

In Marvel's Eternals, Superman gets a mention when Phastos' (Brian Tyree Henry) son meets Ikaris (Richard Madden) and mistakes him for the big blue boy-scout. It's a fun little nod to the iconic hero, and suggests that Supes and his fellow DC Comics comrades do exist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as fictional characters.

During an interview with French publication cinema.jeuxactu.com, director Chloé Zhao was asked if Ikaris might have been the inspiration for the creation of Superman within the MCU, and revealed that Henry Cavill's take on the character we first met in Zack Snyder's Man of Steel was a big influence.

"You said it, not me! Superman is the Übermensch, the ultimate man, the superman, a concept that exists in all cultures. Of all modern interpretations of Superman, this is Zack Snyder's with Man Of Steel which inspired me the most because he approached this myth in an authentic and very real way. I remember thinking it was Superman by Terrence Malick when I saw the trailer. This film left a strong impression on me. But Ikaris is, of course, our own take on Superman."

It's interesting that Zhao mentions Man of Steel here, because some have already drawn comparisons between Eternals and Snyder's film. Both drew mixed-negative reactions from critics, but MOS is viewed as a misunderstood masterpiece by many fans, and the latest Phase 4 adventure may be destined for the same audience reception.

Also, without getting into spoilers, Ikaris proves to be a fascinating, complex interpretation/subversion of Superman in some ways.

What do you guys make of Zhao's comments? Have you been to see Eternals yet? If so, what did you think? You can check out our review here.

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TopBoy
TopBoy - 11/6/2021, 9:43 AM
She’s inspired by Snyder… well that explains a lot.
McMurdo
McMurdo - 11/6/2021, 10:11 AM
@TopBoy - hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Bdub21
Bdub21 - 11/6/2021, 10:28 AM
@TopBoy - when you think about it, if you’ve seen the movie, Ikaris is basically zod
TheWalkingCuban
TheWalkingCuban - 11/6/2021, 10:29 AM
@TopBoy - explains everything. Dang Feige get out of the uncle Scrooge pool and oversee this crap “yeahhh we got a saga, I really don’t care anymore, and when Eternals v the Marvels comes out you’ll be there opening night” no the I won’t.
Comicmoviejunki
Comicmoviejunki - 11/6/2021, 10:52 AM
@TopBoy - came here for this exact comment
RegularPoochie
RegularPoochie - 11/6/2021, 11:24 AM
@TheWalkingCuban - The hell you are talking about?
TheWalkingCuban
TheWalkingCuban - 11/6/2021, 11:34 AM
@RegularPoochie - her getting a trilogy and the sequel being the MCU’s BVS. Her Justice League, now THATS what I’m looking forward to
RegularPoochie
RegularPoochie - 11/6/2021, 11:39 AM
@TheWalkingCuban - oh, okay. But this is no near of MoS, BvS bad.
DR3D
DR3D - 11/6/2021, 12:05 PM
@TopBoy - spot on,
TheWalkingCuban
TheWalkingCuban - 11/6/2021, 12:45 PM
@RegularPoochie - I’m not really saying it is, I’m exaggerating that it is, I’m doing a bit, you know, cuz of the inspiration for the movie, it’s funny trust me

Battabing
Battabing - 11/6/2021, 1:48 PM
@TopBoy - Her RT score is also inspired by Snyder.
TopBoy
TopBoy - 11/6/2021, 2:27 PM
@Battabing - Her cinema score too! 😂
WruceBayne
WruceBayne - 11/6/2021, 11:03 PM
@RegularPoochie - Eternals is still pretty bad though.
JonC
JonC - 11/8/2021, 2:23 PM
@TopBoy - To be fair, of Snyder's work, most agree Man of Steel is his best.
thelastson18
thelastson18 - 11/6/2021, 9:45 AM
I haven’t seen the movie yet but from the trailers I totally see the inspiration. Especially the laser eyes. I’m a big Superman fan, and Man of Steel has definitely grown on me as the years go on. I still believe Henry Cavill would be amazing with better direction
Doomsday8888
Doomsday8888 - 11/6/2021, 9:46 AM
OH NONONONONONO!!!!!! XD


Celestials had their chance!

I can see where she's coming from.

Oh shiieeet man, this thread gon' be good. :P
Doomsday8888
Doomsday8888 - 11/6/2021, 9:51 AM
solskulldeath
solskulldeath - 11/7/2021, 8:18 AM
@Doomsday8888 - I HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE. I SWEAR I HAVE SEEN THIS SCENE BEFORE!!!
JFerguson
JFerguson - 11/6/2021, 9:47 AM
That's fine. Man of Steel was a really good cinematic experience. But I think the movie isn't exactly worth a watch on DVD or anything like that
Feralwookiee
Feralwookiee - 11/6/2021, 9:49 AM
Let me draw my "inspiration" from one of the least inspiring cbm's in the past decade. Makes sense.

DoubleD
DoubleD - 11/6/2021, 9:50 AM
Director Chloé Zhao I don't care where you got your ideas. Thank you for making a great and inspiring film.
Battabing
Battabing - 11/6/2021, 1:51 PM
@DoubleD -
😂😂😂
TheWalkingCuban
TheWalkingCuban - 11/6/2021, 6:34 PM
@DoubleD - ok DoubleD. I’m here for my plate of crow. That sucker was good. Best thing in this phase by far, abd that doesn’t mean the rest sucks tho some of it does, but dang, I was surprised. First of all? I fell asleep after the attack

SPOILERS

in England. Why? Cuz I drove all yesterday, got to my hotel bout 1230 am, showe, sleep bout 1 am, and slept about 5 hours, then drive 3 more. So yeah, I was gone. Like watching Shang chi the day after my dad’s funeral, just gone. Had to rewatch it. Well now I have to rewatch this. But this was better. But before I get into that, when I woke up, it seemed like a really boring piece of crap that was ponderous and unwieldy and insisted upon itself, just pretentious and convoluted, just like I expected… and then came the

SPOILERS

forest attack. And THEN the movie really came together. My 13 year old daughter next to me loved it, my sons were down from her. 16 year old boy was nonplussed. He saw it as a big ol YA novel. 12 year old son, I forgot to ask. But yeah man, THIS movie got me excited for more than just the stuff I know is coming, the stuff with release dates. It has me excited for more Eternals and I don’t even care if they meet phase 1-3 folks. Frikkin Blade?! That’s awesome!

I went in negatively. Why? Cuz I’m not immune to critics. Not taking that vaccine. Let the critics opinions flow through me. However, just cuz they hated Deathproof, doesn’t mean I don’t love it, as one of my favorite QT films. So guess what? Eternals gets a 5 from me. It was frikkin good, son.

DoubleD
DoubleD - 11/6/2021, 6:47 PM
@TheWalkingCuban - Glad you liked it.
JohnCastillo
JohnCastillo - 11/6/2021, 9:51 AM
If it’s anything like Man of Steel, it will be good 😂 Love Man of Steel. Looking forward to Eternals.
Fares
Fares - 11/6/2021, 9:51 AM
This woman gets me.
Armageddon26
Armageddon26 - 11/6/2021, 9:51 AM
Perfect inspiration for this version of Ikaris, Man of Steel is a flawed Superman movie but definitely brings a lot of interesting things to the table (and easily my favorite Snyder DC movie, despite me not liking Superman‘a characterization and a lot of dumb moments)
superherodevourer
superherodevourer - 11/6/2021, 9:52 AM
She gon hurt a lotta MCUbots feelings with this statement lol
Kumkani
Kumkani - 11/6/2021, 9:53 AM
I'm already laughing at the thought of this comment section lmao
marvel72
marvel72 - 11/6/2021, 9:54 AM
Man Of Steel inspired you?

TheRationalNerd
TheRationalNerd - 11/6/2021, 10:17 AM
@marvel72 - 😂😂😂😂
Conquistador
Conquistador - 11/6/2021, 9:55 AM
Eternals is the most cerbral of the MCU bunch and took some risk and stepped away from their regular formula. I think it resulted in a good movie and can see how it attracted the likes of Jolie and Hayak to take part. Some of the Vfx was crap, but I did find it felt more familiar to DC's BvS than say, any of the Avenger movies. I liked it. I hope they bring her back for more. Perfect, it was not, but the most engaging of their recent movies. 8/10
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