Eternals star Lauren Ridloff said she is excited to be portraying Makkari -- the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first deaf superhero.

Ridloff, who is deaf herself, said what excites her is representing the deaf community in the highly anticipated Marvel Studios blockbuster, according to reporting by MovieWeb.

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"I am more thrilled than overwhelmed about being given the opportunity to represent the deaf community," Ridloff said. "I'm very thrilled about that - just to bring in that storyline within the MCU. I think there's plenty of room for more stories like that."

In previous Marvel Comics issues, Makkari's superpower was super-speed. The character was central to the story and is portrayed as a hearing, white man. The MCU iteration of the character stands in stark contrast -- a deaf woman of color -- but is in line with director Chloé Zhao's inclusive approach to the film.

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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.

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Source: MovieWeb