Eternals may be drawing something of a mixed response from critics, but fans appear to have fully embraced this expansion of the MCU's mythology since it arrived in theaters yesterday evening.
Ultimately, even if you walk away somewhat dissatisfied with Marvel Studios' take on these immortal superheroes, there are some cameos we're sure will leave a smile on your face. There's no one better than Kevin Feige at laying the groundwork for what comes next, but these surprise appearances (and mentions) look set to have major consequences.
The film does set the stage for a lot of future stories, and we're now breaking down those cameos in order to better explore what they could mean for the MCU in Phase 4 and beyond.
There aren't a ton of Easter Eggs in Eternals, but the fallout from these cameos is likely to be huge.
5. Blade
That mysterious voice in the film's second post-credits scene? Mahershala Ali's Blade. Chloé Zhao has confirmed this, and it means the Daywalker has prior knowledge of the Ebony Blade. Why? Well, we'd bank on Dane Whitman suiting up as Black Knight to help him battle vampires - an unexpected decision, but one that could have awesome results.
At the end of Eternals, it looked like Dane planned to wield his family's cursed blade in an effort to help Sersi, but with her far from his reach, becoming an ally to Blade does make sense for him. The Ebony Blade has a complicated origin, and Black Knight has at least a little history with Dracula.
Prior to this stinger, there had been speculation that Black Knight could be part of Secret Invasion or even saved for his own series or film. Instead, his destiny appears to lie in Blade's franchise, and if the Ebony Blade - which does look set to transform Dane - is one of only a few weapons capable of killing vampires, then he should prove a key ally in helping save the world from bloodsuckers.
4. Pip The Troll
Despite visual effects that look like they were taken straight from The Polar Express, Pip the Troll's debut is definitely meaningful. Played by Patton Oswalt, the drunken troll does run the risk of becoming annoying, but fans of the comic books will know he's often been a key player.
After being exiled from his kingdom, Pip found himself caught in the middle of the conflict between Adam Warlock and his evil doppelganger Magus. He'd become a close ally to Warlock over the years, even finding himself embroiled in Thanos' hunt for the Infinity Stones. Contact with the Space Gem gave him the ability to both find anyone anywhere and teleport great distances.
Those powers should be crucial in helping the Eternals find their friends, and we'd be shocked if Pip doesn't factor into Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Of course, it's possible a meeting with Warlock will come later, especially if he's set to initially serve as this next character's closest ally...
3. Starfox
When Pip arrives on the Domo, it's to introduce the brother of Thanos, Eros/Starfox (played by Harry Styles). He has an orb that allows him to communicate with the Celestials and knows where to find Sersi, Kingo, and Sprite. Those three are going to need saving from Arishem's judgement, so the quest to find more Eternals is likely to be put on the backburner for the time being.
This story is no doubt being saved for a sequel that could come in the form of a movie released theatrically or as a series on Disney+. However, the former seems most likely, even after the negative reviews.
Styles is a huge star, and someone Marvel Studios is sure to put the spotlight on. As for Eros, he's the total opposite of Thanos, but his ability to manipulate the minds of those around him (basically stimulating the pleasure centers in their brains) has caused tension among the teams he's worked with. He does his best to be a hero, though, and promises to be a major player in the MCU.
2. Thor
Admittedly, this is just a mention, but it's still one of the most significant nods to the wider MCU in Eternals. Kingo reveals that Thor was a big fan of his when he was a child, but these days, he can't even get the God of Thunder on the phone. Not only does this confirm that the Eternals have crossed paths with Asgardians, but there's a shared history here that could be built upon.
Thor's limited knowledge of the Infinity Stones proved crucial in Avengers: Age of Ultron, and if Earth's Mightiest Heroes are destined to team up with the Eternals, this would be a fun place to start.
Gilgamesh even mentions a past team-up with Odin, and we'd be shocked not to see this touched on in some way moving forward. Thor: Love and Thunder would be the perfect place for some of the Eternals to make a fleeting appearance, even if it's just in a post-credits scene, for example.
1. The Dreaming Celestial
Tiamut is the golden Celestial that emerges from Earth at the end of Eternals, and while it looks like he's been killed by Sersi, we can't help but wonder if Marvel Studios has something planned for him. The fact that a stone hand and head is sticking out of the sea is bound to be addressed in future films, and this could quite easily be what brings Namor the Submariner to the surface.
As for the Dreaming Celestial, he factored into the "Heroes Reborn" storyline that rebooted characters like the Avengers and Fantastic Four for a time. Tiamut is also only one of these beings to unmask and ally himself with the Eternals, while - and this could be crucial - his remains were later used to restore Magneto's powers (a mutant!) and even transform San Francisco in Mister Sinister's image.
There are bound to be interested parties in the Celestial's remains because, even in stone, they likely hold a lot of power. With that in mind, we don't think Marvel is done with Tiamut just yet.