Kurt Russell’s portrayal of Ego the Living Planet in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 could have major implications for how the Celestials will be represented in Marvel’s upcoming The Eternals movie. The Celestials, who made their live-action debut in the first Guardians of the Galaxy, are confirmed to have a presence in The Eternals.
Confirmed at SDCC 2019, The Eternals is the second movie on Marvel’s Phase 4 slate, with Chloe Zhao directing and a release date of November 6, 2020 penciled in. The upcoming superhero epic features a star-studded cast that includes Angelina Jolie as Thena, Richard Madden as Ikaris, Gemma Chan as Sersi, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, and Kit Harington as Black Knight. The film, which is expected to span a thousand years, tells the story of the Eternals, a super-powered race of alien immortals who protect the earth from their comic book adversaries, the Deviants.
In Marvel Comics, the Eternals are created by the Celestials, so they’re sure to have a key role in the film, whether it be as villains or as something else entirely. One particular Celestial in the MCU could drop a clue on how they’ll be used in the movie. Kurt Russell’s Ego is a Celestial, yet he speaks and looks just like a human. This is because Ego has the ability to appear as a human. He was even able to enjoy the life of a human while on Earth, where he had a romance with Star-Lord’s mother.
Ego the Living Planet’s behavior and ability to interact and connect with the characters on a human level separates him from the Celestials in Marvel Comics. The Celestials, who are referred to by the Eternals as the “Space Gods” are universally feared and respected for their unmatched powers. How they’re perceived is far different from how the other gods in the Marvel Universe are treated. The Celestials are not gods in the same vein as Thor, Loki, Ares, Hercules, or even Odin. While these characters are immortal and incredibly powerful, none of them are gods in the traditional sense. They can walk amongst human if they so desire, and never even be noticed.
In the comics, the Celestials would never have any need to blend in with humans. It doesn’t suit their interests, because Celestials are so far above all other forms of life. In Jack Kirby’s original Eternals series, the Eternals, the Deviants, and the humans were mystified by them, and of course afraid, because there was no way of knowing what these giant cosmic beings were going to do next. They typically don’t interact with humans or Eternals. What they want and what they think are extremely advanced concepts that are often beyond mortal comprehension. These are the qualities that give them that mysterious god-like vibe that’s so important in the comics. It remains to be seen if Marvel’s Eternals will embrace the change in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, or harken back to the source material.
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