As Marvel Studios enters its Phase 4, the films have been pushing the boundaries and adding more diversity. Eternals is heading towards the same path and more. The upcoming film about the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s next cosmic superhero team will debut the first gay protagonist along with some adult situations — like the MCU’s first ever sex scene. Eternals director Chloé Zhao recently revealed what led to adding the scene in the ensemble film.
The intimate moment between Eternals characters does make sense given that there seems to be a love triangle brewing in the story. The Eternals director didn’t reveal who will be in the love scene but in a recent interview with IndieWire, Chloé Zhao talked about what the sex scene will mean for the future of the MCU.
“From that moment to what you see onscreen, there was definitely a lot of discussion about how to do it. But I think the desire to do something different is a very natural desire for where Marvel Studios is right now. I think it’s like Westerns coming into the revisionist period of the ’70s. I think it’s happening to superhero films — or at least we’re on the edge of that. And so, these scenes just started to happen naturally,” Zhao said.
As the Oscar winner pointed out, Marvel’s next phase will set the tone for the next decade. So, adding some adult situations will allow the MCU to mature and grow with their audiences. Zhao did reveal the scene was part of the script before even taking the helm for Eternals. So that indicates Marvel Studios has been planning this shift for a while.
The Eternals director revealed what it was like shooting an intimate moment for the superhero movie. “For us to be able to show two people who love each other, not just emotionally and intellectually but also physically, and to have a sex scene that will be seen by a lot of people that shows their love and compassion and gentleness — I think it’s a really beautiful thing,” Zhao added.
Eternals seems to be shaping up to be a film that will push the boundaries of superhero films regardless of the mixed reviews it has received from critics. They may not be the most known superhero team, but let’s see what the Eternals director has in store for fans when Marvel’s epic film debuts this Friday, November 5th in theaters only.
