While reports suggest that a second MCU, it's far too early for a potential sequel to adapt one of Marvel Comics' biggest stories involving the family of immortal heroes. Some rumors have even teased that the next Eternals film will adapt Marvel's Judgment Day crossover event.
Although there haven't been any official confirmations that Eternals 2 is happening, comments and reports from actors from the first film have strongly hinted that a sequel is in the works. Likewise, it has been confirmed by one of Marvel Studios' producers that the Eternals will return in some fashion. However, Judgment Day is not the story to take inspiration from immediately after the first film's criticisms and the MCU's current state overall.
Eternals' Judgment Day Story In Marvel Comics Explained
Published by Marvel Comics in 2022, A.X.E.: Judgment Day from Kieron Gillen and Valerio Schiti is an epic crossover event featuring the Eternals, Avengers, and X-Men, who are all at war. However, their conflict is interrupted by the resurrection of one of Earth's first Celestials, who threatens to burn the world if its population isn't deemed worthy both individually and collectively. Featuring several heroes whose legacies are cosmically judged while they search for a way to save the world, it's a desperate event with incredibly high stakes, and the Eternals are right in the middle of it all as they seek to change core aspects of their existence. This epic storyline should be saved for the MCU's Phase 7.
Judgment Day brings together several different heroes regardless of whether they're human, Eternal, or mutant. So long as they care and call Earth home, it's all hands on deck for this massive crossover. As such, it's a truly epic event worth telling on the big screen in some shape or form. However, several other events must happen in the MCU before Judgment Day can be everything it should be.
Why Eternals' Judgment Day Cannot Happen Until At Least Phase 7
Because one of the primary criticisms of the first Eternals was that none of the individual heroes had enough time to be fully fleshed out, it doesn't make much sense to throw even more heroes and teams into the mix. Instead, Eternals 2 should focus more on the Eternals themselves while continuing their tensions with their creators, the Celestials. Once audiences have been given more time to explore the new team of heroes who've protected Earth since the dawn of civilization, then a crossover with other heroes could and should happen.
However, Marvel Studios shouldn't just over Avengers vs. X-Men. A film adapting the Avengers' war with mutant kinds greatest heroes over the Phoenix Force is definitely worth telling as MCU mutants have started to debut. Likewise, the X-Men should be fully integrated into the MCU before Judgment Day, as a big part of the conflict is the Eternals' discovery that the X-Men share DNA with Deviants. Regardless, Judgment Day would be a dynamic trilogy-ender rather than a direct sequel to the first Eternals. Additionally, the original story doesn't feature alternate realities or variants, so it should be saved at least until after the Multiverse Saga has concluded.
Judgment Day Would Be Perfect For MCU's Eternals...But Will It Get That Far?
Beyond Phase 6 and the Multiverse Saga, there's no confirmation about what's next for the MCU in Phase 7. Likewise, the divisiveness of the first Eternals did create questions regarding whether Marvel Studios would be developing sequels at all, choosing instead to have the heroes appearing in future films from time to time or for massive events such as Avengers: Secret Wars. As such, the reports about Eternals 2 are somewhat surprising, though it's exciting to see that Marvel Studios seems committed to continuing their story.
While it shouldn't be the basis for Eternals 2, Judgment Day would be perfect for the immortal heroes down the line. Combined with a theoretical Avengers vs. X-Men crossover preceding it, the MCU could have a dynamic trilogy of team vs. team conflicts beginning with Avengers battling the X-Men. Then, a concluding Judgment Day would have the Avengers, X-Men, and Eternals all at war before ing forces to fight a cosmic threat endangering them all. It's a fascinating idea for the MCU and the Eternals franchise, though there's quite a bit of ground to cover before something like Judgment Day could successfully happen on-screen.
