Had everything gone according to plan, Eternals would be opening this Friday, Nov. 6. It would have been the second entry in Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to hit theaters in 2020, following the long-awaited release of Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow in May. In this alternate reality, we would be days away from seeing if Marvel Studios' latest gamble on an obscure superhero team paid off as well as Guardians of the Galaxy.
Unfortunately, in our reality, even Kevin Feige's well-oiled machine is no match for the COVID-19 pandemic. Black Widow's recent delay pushed Eternals' release from Nov. 6, 2020 to Nov. 5, 2021, with a brief pit stop at Feb. 12, 2021 in between.
In the last few months, Black Widow has also been delayed twice. Marvel initially pushed its release date back from May 1, 2020 to Eternals Nov. 6 spot, before giving up on a 2020 release completely and setting its opening for May 7, 2021.
Now that its film slate has been pushed to next year, Phase 4's only possible representation in 2020 will be streaming on Disney+, and since The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is confirmed for a 2021 release, WandaVision is the only MCU TV series that could debut this year. Yet, WandaVision was notably absent from Disney+'s November preview trailer. So, if it's going to make its debut in 2020, unless it has a surprise release, it will have to be in December.
WandaVision would have high expectations under normal circumstances. It's the first television show to truly be part of the MCU. It's also meant to be a huge departure from previous MCU entries; it will take advantage of television as a medium and will likely be more idiosyncratic than anything we've seen from the franchise so far. But having to kick off Phase 4 is an added weight on the series. Given it has the burden of setting up plot threads for future MCU entries, including Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, it will have the weight of additional expectations. However, if the show lives up to its potential it could be a good substitute for Black Widow as Phase 4's first impression.
Yet, the delays of Black Widow and Eternals has the potential to impact Phase 4, even if WandVision does well. With some exceptions, such as the cancelled Inhumans film, the MCU's release schedule has run smoothly. At least two entries have been released in theaters every year since 2013 and the last three years have brought three per year. A year without any MCU film entries -- and no guarantee any will come out in 2021 -- could be the blow to the MCU's popularity superhero fatigue hasn't been, because the lack of consistent film releases could dampen audience's excitement for the franchise. That's especially true if Black Widow and Eternals aren't crowd-pleasers like their predecessors. Even if WandaVision lives up to its hype, a lukewarm reception to these films would be a rough start for Phase 4 at the box office.
Moreover, Marvel Studios' scheduling woes have also had an effect on the company's publishing division. Marvel Comics' Eternals series, by popular creators Kieron Gillen and Esad Ribic, has also been delayed until 2021, with its first issue now coming out in January instead of Nov. 2020. So, instead of the series launching alongside the film, it looks like Marvel aims to use the comics to create hype for it. This may be a wise choice because, although pre-pandemic, there was growing anticipation for the film, the delay will mean the studio will have to build this up again.
Even by the standards of a franchise that's made Groot and Ant-Man household names, Eternals is a strange property to adapt. The original Jack Kirby series came at the tail end of his cosmic phase in the '70s, and has never had the appeal of his New Gods, much less the characters he co-created with Stan Lee. The Eternals always struggled to find their place in the Marvel Universe, and that will be the same in the MCU. In order for Phase 4 to come together, the MCU will have to find a niche for the film Eternals they never had in comics. That is, assuming everything goes according to plan.
Directed by Chloé Zhao with a screenplay by Matthew and Ryan Firpo, Eternals stars Richard Madden as Ikaris, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, Lauren Ridloff as Makkari, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos, Salma Hayek as Ajak, Lia McHugh as Sprite, Don Lee as Gilgamesh, Angelina Jolie as Thena, Barry Keoghan as Druig, Gemma Chan as Sersi and Kit Harington as Dane Whitman, aka the Black Knight. The film will premiere in theaters on Nov. 5, 2021.