I’m worried that my favorite superhero speedster might not be seen again in theMCUfollowing her debut in 2021’sEternalsafter Lauren Ridloff’s comments about her possible return inAvengers: Doomsday. Marvel Studios recently confirmed the first27 actors cast inAvengers: Doomsday, including members of the Avengers, the Thunderbolts, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men, but there are many other actors who weren’t mentioned. The likes of Mark Ruffalo, Brie Larson, Tom Holland and Benedict Cumberbatch, among others, have been ignored, but there are even more stars I want to see return.
While there are a number of superhero teams expected to return to battleRobert Downey Jr.’s Doctor DoominAvengers: Doomsday, one that I’m sad is missing is the Eternals. The Celestial-created team debuted in 2021’s eponymousEternals, part of the MCU’s Phase 4, but the team’s future hasn’t been confirmed by Marvel Studios.New comments fromEternalsactor Lauren Ridloff seem to cast even more doubt on the titular team’s return, but I think it would be a huge shame to omit thiscosmic Eternals team and its incredible starsfrom the MCU.
Lauren Ridloff Doesn’t Think Makkari Will Return In Avengers: Doomsday
Makkari Made Her Debut Alongside The Other Eternals In 2021
Eternals’main cast included some very talented stars that made hugely exciting additions to the MCU. Alongside Salma Hayek, Angelina Jolie, Don Lee, Lia McHugh, Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Brian Tyree Henry and Barry Keoghan,The Walking Deadstar Lauren Ridloff also appeared inEternalsas the superhero Makkari.Makkari is a speedster, allowing her to move at remarkable speeds and traverse the globe in mere moments. I love how this power was depicted inEternals, and am worried that Makkari might not return after Lauren Ridloff’s new comments.
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Speaking toThe Directon the red carpet for the 2025 documentary,Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore,Lauren Ridloff revealed that it’s"not likely"that Makkari will be returning inAvengers: Doomsdayor, in fact, in any upcoming MCU project. This makes me pretty worried about Lauren Ridloff’s MCU future and those of herEternalscast-mates, as I wish Marvel Studios would stop ignoring these formidable heroes. Speaking toBusiness Insiderin 2022, Ridloff suggested that she"would think"Makkari would return, so these new comments are a real change of heart.
The Direct:You played Makkari inEternals, which I loved, by the way. We haven’t seen that character since. So, I wanted to know if Marvel has given you any hints about when we might see [the Eternals] next. Because, after all, the nextAvengersfilm is starting up soon.
Lauren Ridloff:Not likely. I don’t know, my magic eight-ball is telling me, ‘Not likely.’
So far, onlyWhat If…?season 3 has referencedEternalsand its characters, as Kumail Nanjiani’s Kingo teamed up with Agatha Harkness to thwart Tiamut’s emergence and even defeat Arishem.The poor reception towards Phase 4’sEternalshas seemingly pushed Marvel Studios to ignore the team, even though the 2021 movie has received new retrospective praise and admiration. Despite its flaws, I lovedEternalsback in Phase 4, so I am desperate to see the titular team get brought back to the MCU, withAvengers: Doomsdaybeing the perfect opportunity, so Ridloff’s new comments have made me nervous.
I Really Wanted To See The Eternals Return To The MCU After Their Phase 4 Debut
I Loved The Eternals In The MCU’s Phase 4 & Want To See Them Return
I think it would be a huge shame for Marvel Studios to just completely ignore theEternals in the MCU’s future. Their debut in 2021 brought something completely new and interesting to the MCU, and introduced an entirely new mythology and an immense history that filled in huge gaps in the franchise’s timeline and established a whole new status quo.Eternalsshook up the MCU’s Phase 4, but has had no impact since, butI think it’s a mistake for Marvel to just move on from this corner of the MCU and its formidable characters.
One of the problems that I had withEternalswas that the Chloé Zhao spectacular tried to introduce too many new characters, and the restrictions of a feature film’s length meant that none got the level of development they deserved.Eternals’characters might have felt lackluster because the movie was stretched a bit too thin, but this just makes me think that Marvel Studios needs to bring them back even more. Bringing the Eternals back can wrap up the movie’s loose ends and give its heroes more attention, which could make them even more central to the MCU.
Harry Styles
Cosmic Energy Manipulation
Lauren Ridloff’s Makkari is my favorite Eternal, so I was sad to see her get basically no focus inEternals. She did get a chance to display her power, however, and I much preferredthe interpretation of Makkari’s enhanced speedto that of the likes of the Flash or Quicksilver, so I would love to see this repeated in the MCU’s future. This was the most realistic depiction of super-speed I’ve ever seen, andthis, combined with Makkari’s kind heart and genuine emotion, made her my favorite Eternal, so I’d love to see her come back.
Where Could Makkari & The Eternals Return To The MCU If Not In Avengers: Doomsday?
I Hope Marvel Studios Still Brings Back The Eternals Somehow
While Lauren Ridloff’s comments might cast doubt on Makkari and the otherEternals returning to the MCUat all, I think it would be a huge mistake for the team to just be ignored. If not inAvengers: Doomsday, which would be the perfect place for the Eternals to return, I think there are many more opportunities for the cosmic heroes to show their faces again. Perhaps most notably,I’m still holding out hope for a direct sequel toEternalsto be developed, which would be the best place for Makkari and the other Eternals to be developed much more.
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As cosmic superheroes, I could see the Eternals having a role in theMCU’s as-yet-unannouncedThor 5, teaming up with Chris Hemsworth’s God of Thunder after his return inAvengers: Doomsday.It would also be great to see the Eternals have a role inAvengers: Secret Wars, though I’d be worried that Marvel might use the rumored soft-reboot of the MCU to write the team out.Captain America: Brave New Worldrevisited Celestial Island afterEternals, so I’d love to seeAvengers: Doomsdayor any number of upcoming MCU projects continue to address the team’s impact on the MCU.
