Days ahead of its theatrical wide-release, a fake plot synopsis for Marvel's Eternals was posted on -- and subsequently removed from -- the film's Wikipedia page.
As one of the most visited websites on the internet, Wikipedia is possibly the most popular way to obtain quick information on hot topics. However, since it can be edited by anybody, it can sometimes display certain high-profile inaccuracies. One such defect featured a very detailed -- but very fake -- plot recap for Marvel's Eternals. This fictitious description was posted on the website for just over six hours before it was found and taken down. As preserved by The Direct, the summary drew inspiration from real promotional material and then fabricated an entire plot, including a detailed breakdown of why the Eternals fight against the Deviants, where they have been hiding for all these years, and who dies.
Also featured among the "spoilers" are fake mid-credits and post-credits sequences. The fabricated mid-credits scene would have theoretically revolved around Kit Harington's Dane Whitman becoming the Black Knight by picking up the Ebony Blade, the source of his power in the character's comic book appearances. Then, the post-credits scene would have introduced Thanos' brother Eros. Also known by the code-name Starfox, the fake ending would have brought Eros to the remains of the Avengers headquarters. While there, he would have found the ashes of Thanos and sworn revenge for his death.
Though these fabricated plot points are ultimately little more than elaborate fan theories, there are very real spoilers for Eternals floating around on the internet. After the film's premiere on Oct. 18, a member of the press leaked plot details online, including the actual post-credits scene. This information infuriated fans and the team behind the film. No stranger to spoilers from his time on Game of Thrones, Harington expressed his disappointment and said, "Let people go to the cinema and experience it when they pay for their ticket and do it that way, rather than spreading it online where they might not realize they’re coming across stuff."
This incident is the latest in a string of troubles that have plagued Eternals in the weeks ahead of its release. A number of users on IMDB "review-bombed" the movie for having proud LGBTQ+ characters in its core cast, prompting star Kumail Nanjiani to make a statement supporting the film. Though these were removed, the bad reviews continued as more critics chimed in, citing issues like pacing, dull characters and an ill-equipped director in Chloé Zhao. These reviews resulted in Eternals becoming the first installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to be "certified Rotten" on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.
Fans who want to find out the true plot of Eternals can catch the movie in theaters starting Nov. 5.
Source: The Direct