WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Eternals, now playing in theaters.
Eternals is packed with real-life events and legends that are woven seamlessly into Marvel’s Cinematic Universe (MCU). Many scenes boast an Easter egg or two, but once the remaining Eternals return to their ship near the film’s third act, there are nearly too many references to count. This particular scene finds Thena sparring with a sword, one Sprite mistakes for the Ebony Blade. Though Thena reveals that it’s actually Excalibur, the Ebony Blade features prominently in Eternals' second post-credit scene.
The two swords are linked by only one degree of separation. Excalibur is the famed weapon of the legendary King Arthur, while the Ebony Blade was constructed by Merlin, the king’s trusted wizard. This all, in turn, connects to Dane Whitman, a longtime fixture of Marvel Comics that was introduced alongside the Eternals. He’s known to many as the Black Knight, and Eternals seems to set up the hero’s MCU debut. Whitman’s introduction in Eternals might feel random at first, but given all the Arthurian lore woven through the film, it could be that the Black Knight is connected not just to Camelot, but the Eternals as well.
The first iteration of the Black Knight, Sir Percival of Scandia, was first introduced in the comics in 1955. As a member of King Arthur’s court, he was chosen by Merlin to protect King Arthur from various assassination attempts by Mordred, Arthur’s illegitimate son. In most iterations of the comics, Merlin hand-picks Sir Percy as his champion and creates the Ebony Blade for him. Though the sword eventually became cursed, Sir Percy’s bloodline continued to wield the weapon (often for less-than-honorable purposes) before it landed in the possession of his descendant Dane.
While the origins of the Black Knight in the comics are pretty cut and dry, Eternals seems to introduce a new thread. On the Domo, Sprite reminds Thena of King Arthur’s affection for her. It’s a blink-and-miss-it reference, but it reveals that Thena -- and perhaps all the Eternals -- spent some time in Camelot. There are even some theories that Thena was the Lady of the Lake, the mythical woman who presented Arthur with Excalibur. Given her possession of the weapon now, it makes sense that the sword might have returned to her after King Arthur’s death.
And there are more artifacts on the Domo that connect the Eternals to Arthurian legend. The notorious Emerald Tablet that Makkari spent some time searching for was the source of inspiration for European alchemy. It introduced the phrase “as above, so below” to modern-day occultists, but the same phrase also influenced Marvel mysticism. It ties directly to the Otherworld, a parallel dimension where a resurrected King Arthur currently resides. The Holy Grail also makes an appearance, an artifact that was also guarded by the Lady of the Lake.
Eternals also connects Sersi to the Middle Ages, and not just through her romantic connection to Dane Whitman. Early in the film, Sersi gives Dane a gift in the form of a ring -- one that bears the Black Knight crest. When asked, Sersi claims to have found it on eBay, but it’s far more likely that she’s had it for centuries. Confirming Sersi’s connection to King Arthur’s era could point to a past collaboration with Merlin. As she’s arguably the Eternal with the most mystical powers -- and even shares her name with Greek sorceress Circe -- it’s even possible that she helped the Arthurian wizard create the blade.
Although the Eternals' influence during King Arthur’s time is much more subtle in the comics, the countless Arthurian references in Eternals have laid the groundwork for something much more involved. The film connects three characters to the medieval legend and even goes so far as to suggest that the Eternals helped to create the Black Knight’s Ebony Blade, or influenced the magic required to do so. The Black Knight’s MCU origins may remain under wraps for some time. But given the breadcrumbs strewn throughout Eternals, it’s clear that they’ll be playing a massive role in the hero’s story.
To see the legend unfold, Eternals is currently in theaters.