Phase 4 is shaping up to be an interesting experiment for Marvel Studios; new characters are being introduced, and familiar mantles are being passed to different heroes. Eternals promises to bring a lot of new faces into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but during a recent interview with Toronto Sun, producer Nate Moore stressed the standalone nature of the movie.
"I think the Infinity Stones fell into our lap and really helped connect things in ways that felt unexpected and earned," he explained, reflecting on the Infinity Saga. "If you just watch Eternals , you can enjoy Eternals , you can understand Eternals and you’re good to go."
The downside of that, however, is what sounds like a move away from worldbuilding and Easter Eggs. "We felt like there was enough story that it could be a contained universe," Moore says. "We definitely have ideas of how things can cross over later. But this movie with 10 characters and Dane Whitman and the Celestials and the Deviants, there was enough for us to play with."
So, now might be a good time to temper expectations about any X-Men or Galactus teases! The same can be said for a possible sequel, as the producer went on to make it clear that Eternals wasn't made with the intention that it would be the first part of a trilogy, for example.
"It’s not something that is a must-have. Obviously, we have ideas of where we could go, but there isn’t a hard and fast rule where we have to have three of these things and this is the first."
With the ongoing expansion of the MCU, these characters could quite easily make their presence felt in any number of upcoming Marvel Studios TV shows or movies. We're clearly going to have to just wait and see what the future holds in store for them, but these Eternals are bound to return eventually.
Eternals is set to be released exclusively in theaters on November 5.