Overview
Over the past 13 years, plenty of excellent filmmakers have helmed Marvel movies, including Iron Man's Jon Favreau, Thor's Kenneth Branagh, Thor: Ragnarok's Taika Waititi and Black Panther's Ryan Coogler. But none have a Best Director Oscar to their name, or made history by winning said coveted accolade — until, come October this year, Nomadland's Chloé Zhao adds a film to the always-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe.
That movie: Eternals. Focusing on an immortal alien race, and boasting a cast spanning Angelina Jolie (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil), Kumail Nanjiani (Stuber), Salma Hayek (Like a Boss), Barry Keoghan (Calm with Horses), Gemma Chan (Captain Marvel), Brian Tyree Henry (Superintelligence), and Game of Thrones co-stars Richard Madden and Kit Harington, it's one of four MCU movies set to drop in 2021 — alongside Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and the latest Spider-Man flick. It's also Zhao's first feature after the vastly different film that's been winning her so much praise this year, as well as her first leap into the blockbuster realm. And, if you're wondering what to expect, Marvel has just revealed its first sneak peek.
A full trailer hasn't been released as yet, but Marvel has unveiled a celebratory clip that champions the movie-going experience now that cinemas are getting back into the swing of things in the US, and it includes snippets of footage from Zhao's upcoming film. The video isn't big on story details, but the filmmaker's visual sensibilities shine through — even though she's working on a far bigger scale than seen in her first three movies.
The Marvel clip also shouts out to a heap of other big MCU movies that are headed to the silver screen in the coming years, should you need a reminder. The aforementioned Black Widow arrives on July 8, and will be available on streaming at the same time as well, before Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings drops in theatres only on September 2. Next comes Eternals on October 28, then Spider-Man: No Way Home in December. In 2022, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is due in March, Thor: Love and Thunder in April, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in July and Captain Marvel sequel The Marvels in November. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania hits in February 2023 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 in May the same year, while the clip also teases a new Fantastic Four movie.
Check out the celebratory Marvel video below:
Eternals opens in cinemas Down Under on October 28.