WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Eternals, now in theaters.
Though Chloé Zhao’s Eternals is shaping up to be one of Marvel’s most divisive films, it’s already beloved among fans. Many have grown attached to the film’s diverse cast of characters, and some are already lobbying for prequels to explore the Eternals’ ripe backstory — and that even includes one of the film’s writers, Kaz Firpo.
“We’ve always even joked that there’s an incredible prequel series to be made here on Disney+,” Firpo revealed in an interview with CBR. “It’s really diving into these historical stories by the lens of one or two Eternals.” His pitch was primarily focused on Kingo’s point-of-view, but a 10-episode series that follows each Eternal through a pivotal moment in history is too exciting to pass up. Let’s take a look at the Eternals who would be most suited to their own episodes and the pivotal points in development that the hypothetical series could explore.
Thena Could Introduce the Origin of the Ebony Blade
Angelina Jolie’s Thena enjoyed a substantial arc in Eternals. The legendary warrior suffers from a dementia-like illness called Mahd Wy’ry. Her memory loss puts her at odds with the rest of the group at times, but her quest to regain her autonomy makes her one of the most compelling characters in Eternals.
Firpo had the idea of setting a Thena-centered episode in Ancient Greece during the Peloponnesian War. Her involvement would reveal how she influenced the legend of the Greek goddess Athena — but what about an episode set in King Arthur’s time?
In Eternals, Sprite and Thena briefly discuss the latter’s flirtationship with King Arthur. The king’s sword, Excalibur, is even in the Eternals’ possession. However, it’s not the only mythical sword to appear in the film. The Ebony Blade, commonly associated with Dane Whitman’s Black Knight, makes an appearance in Eternals’ second post-credit scene. In the comics, the blade was created by King Arthur’s mage, Merlin. Its origins in the MCU have yet to be revealed, but a prequel episode following Thena, her relationship with King Arthur and even the creation of the Ebony Blade could build on Marvel’s already-promising mythology in the films.
Phastos’ Arc Could Shed Light on His Lowest Point
The Eternals’ inventor, Phastos, is easily one of the more complex characters in the film. Portrayed by Brian Tyree Henry, Phastos is eager to introduce new technology to mankind. He is motivated by the desire to help humanity progress, but the Eternals’ leader, Ajak, regularly prevents him from introducing advanced technology too soon. However, Ajak apparently can’t hinder him for long and Phastos’ zeal ultimately paves the way for his biggest regret: the creation of the atom bomb during World War II.
One of Eternals’ many time-jumps puts Phastos and Ajak in the immediate aftermath of Hiroshima’s decimation in 1945. This particular scene is polarizing for its revisionist take on a global tragedy, but it represents a huge turning point for Phastos as the day he lost faith in mankind. It’s only natural that a Phastos-centered episode should focus on the events leading up to Hiroshima, and how his technology influenced the creation of the world’s first atomic bomb.
Ajak’s Potential Might Finally Be Realized
Ajak was arguably the least-explored member of the Eternals, relegated to sometimes maternal figure, sometimes voice box for creator Arishem’s agenda. It’s a real shame, as Academy Award-nominated actress Salma Hayek deserved a more substantial role as one of the most powerful Eternals. Fortunately, Hayek revealed that she signed a multi-picture deal with Marvel Studios, which is good news for anyone hoping for another Ajak appearance. This could take the form of a cameo in a film or a prequel for the Eternals’ leader.
Throughout Eternals, Ajak is firmly in Arishem’s camp, content to remain withdrawn from humanity and ensure that the other Eternals do the same. It isn’t until the group splits and Ajak chooses a life of solitude, that she finally begins to feel a fondness for humanity. It’s not clear when her change of heart occurs, but Ajak’s comics counterpart was embroiled in a few iconic eras that could easily translate to Hayek’s character.
In the comics, the Aztecs mistook Ajak for their ancient deity Quetzalcoatl. This became a total missed opportunity in the film, as one time-jump reveals that the Eternals were actually present during the fall of the Aztec Empire in 1525. Barry Keoghan’s Druig shows more of a heart for the Aztecs than Ajak, who actively prevents the Eternals from interfering in Cortés’s siege of Tenochtitlan. An Eternals prequel could potentially remedy this with an Ajak-focused arc in another Aztec city.
Gilgamesh’s Past Opens the Door For More MCU Gods
Gilgamesh’s namesake comes from an epic poem dated back to the second millennium BC. Some scholars say the Epic of Gilgamesh was inspired by a Mesopotamian king, one that the Gilgamesh of the comics did at one point become. For a time, he had absolutely no idea of his Eternal origins, content to travel the world performing Herculean feats among humans. He even performed a task that was later attributed to Hercules, and the two went on to become lifelong friends.
Eternals may have teased the introduction of more god-like heroes to the MCU, but Gilgamesh’s friendship with Hercules in the comics kicks the door wide open. Hercules is a beloved hero in the Marvel universe, one whose MCU debut has been long anticipated. Additionally, Zeus is set to feature in Thor: Love and Thunder, so it stands to reason that other heroes and demigods might be on their way soon. Gilgamesh’s adventures with these heroes could be a great way to bring more deities into the MCU, even potentially setting up Hercules’ God Squad further down the line.
Kingo Could Grapple With a Crucial Event in India’s History
The Eternals writers clearly have a soft spot for Kingo, as well as Kumail Nanjiani, the actor that brought the character to life. Kingo even seems to be the reason the Firpos thought of an Eternals prequel series to begin with. Their Kingo-focused episode would take place in 1920s India, “where he is juggling his life as a movie star, dealing with Gandhi’s peaceful dissolution of the British empire in India.” The idea of addressing colonialization is interesting — but given that Nanjiani is Pakistani-American, a Kingo-focused arc could also take place 20 years later, during India’s Partition.
The Partition of India is a tragic moment in history nearly on par with Hiroshima. In 1947, Britain, who’d previously colonized India, finally withdrew from the country, but not before splitting it into two nations. One remained India, and the other became Pakistan. The partition was created to appease the disparate religious groups lobbying for independent states but resulted in millions of deaths and a nationwide refugee crisis.
Kingo is one of the Eternals with a real love for humanity, similar to Gemma Chan’s Sersi. He’s also strongly averse to violence, bowing out of the Eternals’ civil war because he refuses to harm a member of his family. This could have stemmed from his kinship with the people of India and his involvement in the Partition, one of the bloodiest conflicts in history.
The topic of Partition is highly sensitive in South Asian communities and would have to be handled with great care. But Nanjiani has been very vocal about dismantling stereotypes for South Asian characters with his role in the MCU — and addressing Partition could be a great way to do it.
To see their big-screen debut, Eternals is currently playing in theaters.
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