The mixed early reviews for Eternals has failed to impress critics.
In 2018, just a few months after Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige announced the production of Eternals, Chloé Zhao, director of the 2017 contemporary western The Rider, was hired. This is in line with Feige’s preference to work with filmmakers who are beyond the typical blockbuster profile, as he believes in their unique voice and talent. Originally, Zhao was shortlisted to work on Natasha Romanoff’s solo film Black Widow, and although the gig eventually went to Cate Shortland (Berlin Syndrome), she decided to still pitch her Eternals vision to the studio. She successfully landed the role after exhibiting not only her directorial style but also her ion for the superhero universe itself.
However, despite Zhao’s promising involvement, Eternals has already received mixed reviews ahead of its theatrical release. Its cinematography, casting, and acting are widely praised, while its mythology and narrative pacing are criticized. Unsurprisingly, although Eternals is proving to be one of the most visually distinct and refreshing movies in the MCU, it still sticks to the Marvel story formula. Because of this, movie critics have pointed out that they looked for Zhao’s signature filmmaking style in Eternals, only to walk out disappointed. Indeed, this formula limits Zhao’s creativity, notwithstanding the creative freedom awarded to her, which even included shooting on location with the camera she used for Nomadland.
The MCU storytelling has been more or less defined by the combination of introducing the heroes and their evil counterparts in the first half and racing against time to team up and save the world in the latter — with witty one-liners, pop culture references, and humorous quips. This has been a focal point of discussion within the industry, especially since veteran filmmakers have explicitly expressed their disapproval towards it. However, just because the Marvel formula has critically and commercially worked for more than a decade does not mean it is flawless and should still be followed in the Marvel films.
If anything, the Eternals arguably proves that this makes everything in the MCU arsenal uniform and predictable. As a result, no matter who gets hired to direct the next films — no matter how bold and visionary they may be — they will always be limited by the narrative template imposed within the cinematic universe. Sure, there can be deviations and interesting developments, like Zhao’s intention to make Eternals as representative as possible by introducing an inclusive cast — but ultimately, the conventions of Marvel filmmaking still reign. After three phases of blockbuster hits, MCU formula has gotten stale, and Eternals appears to follow the same pattern. This reliance on a familiar structure should already be retired, especially as the studio intends to usher in a new wave of heroes and multiverses. After all, Eternals is just proof of how the MCU can be elevated to contain original and unique perspectives.
