Eternals could end up being Marvel Studios' first Rotten film, but it's also the first to directly reference the DC Universe (here's hoping that didn't curse the divisive Phase 4 title).
In trailers and TV spots for the film, we've seen Jack (Esai Daniel Cross), Phastos' son, mistaking Ikaris for Superman. That's because the Eternal shoots laser beams from his eyes, but the hero makes it clear to the boy that he doesn't wear a cape. The fun part of this Easter Egg is that the film reveals the Eternals have inspired many legends over the course of their 6000 years on Earth...perhaps Ikaris did somehow serve as Joe Siegel and Jerry Shuster's basis for the Man of Steel?
Supes isn't the only DC hero mentioned; Harish Patel delivers a scene-stealing performance as Karun Patel, Kingo's camera-wielding valet.
He's compared to Batman's butler Alfred Pennyworth at one point, confirming that the entire DC Universe does, in fact, exist as a fictional entity in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's pretty wild to think that the likes of Peter Parker and Ms. Marvel have grown up only reading the adventures of Superman and Batman, though we're assuming Captain America might have at least had his own series.
Such direct references to DC are a surprise; however, director Chloé Zhao previously told Variety: "I take responsibility for that. You write it on the page, show it to Kevin, if he doesn’t say anything, that’s a go. I don’t think there was a conversation. Not really, except, he goes, ‘Oh, that’s cool.'"
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