The Marvel Cinematic Universe has gradually begun to highlight a more diverse group of characters in recent years thanks to superhero movies like Black Panther and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. And although that trend continues with the upcoming Eternals, Angelina Jolie -- who plays the Eternal warrior Thena in the film -- questions why it took so long to happen in the first place.

Eternals centers around the titular superheroes, a group whose ranks include multiple people of color, queer characters, and even a deaf hero in the form of Makkari (played by deaf actor Lauren Ridloff). Speaking to Jolie at the film's red carpet premiere, Variety noted that few people expected to ever see that type of inclusiveness in an MCU movie. "I know, and you know what's really quite stunning is that when we walked out all of us together, it didn't feel like, 'This is so new and cool,' it felt like, 'This is how it always should have been,'" said Jolie. "Why did it take so long? It felt so right."

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Variety then asked why Jolie felt this took so long to happen. "Oh god, there's so many reasons," she replied. "I could say many things, and I could go on for a while, but I think... it is so good to just bust a hole right in that... What I hope is that when people watch this film, they're not seeing it and saying, 'Oh, this is a film about diversity. This is a film that shows this person can be a superhero,' they'll just say, 'Well of course that person's a superhero, and of course that person also is. Of course.' And more shame on us for every questioning that they couldn't be because, 'Of course.'"

Eternals is also noteworthy for its inclusiveness behind the camera, with co-writer/director Chloé Zhao (Nomadland) being the first woman of color to call the shots on an MCU movie. Moreover, Zhao is only the third woman overall to helm or co-helm a Marvel Studios film to date after Anna Boden (Captain Marvel) and Cate Shortland (Black Widow).

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It was Zhao's character-driven approach that convinced Jolie to sign on for the film after passing on superhero roles in the past. "It's not one of us in front and other characters behind," said Jolie in a recent interview. "It's this really equal family. And I wanted to be a part of this family."

Eternals opens exclusively in theaters Nov. 5.

Source: Variety