Summary
Before it’s too late, theMarvel Cinematic Universeneeds to shift its complete focus toward bringing Thor and the Eternals together in the same movie. The God of Thunder’s arc still lacks the closure his character deserves, and the best way to send him off would be to let him team up with another sidelinedMCUgroup: the Eternals.
Thor’s last outing inLove and Thunderwas abysmal, and it made most fans wish to deny the film’s existence. Meanwhile,Eternalswasn’t as bad, but it failed to leave a lasting impact, which is a disservice to its powerful characters and the stellar acting talent behind them. Marvel Studios can solve both of these issues by uniting the Son of Odin with the ancient immortals – but how could this be done?
Thor and Eternals Crossover in Marvel Comics
Bringing Thor and the Eternals together in the same film isn’t just wishful thinking or some desperate attempt to bid farewell to an iconic hero while reviving another sidelined group. This crossover was actually set in motion decades ago, thanks toMarvel Comics storylinessuch as Jack Kirby’sThor and The Eternals: The Celestials Saga. It may seem odd to call it an existential crisis for a literal god, but that’s exactly what Thor experiences when he discovers that the cosmos is not what he thought it was. So, he sets out on a search for answers, which leads him to confronting the Eternals, beings created by the Celestials.
In the comics, this is a pre-Ragnarok event with Odin still alive, which differs from the current state of the MCU. However, many elements from theThor: The Eternals Sagavolumes could easily be adapted for the big screen. Moreover, the looming threat of the Celestials remains unresolved in the MCU, and this could naturally pull Thor and the people of New Asgard into conflict. But it depends on where exactly a potentialThor 5story starts to put him on his next cosmic adventure, which leads him to the ancient immortals.
Team Thor and the Eternals Should Fight the Celestials
The threat in question revolves around Arishem, the Prime Celestial who created both the Eternals and the Deviants. At the end of the 2021 film, the Eternals stopthe Emergence of the Celestial Tiamut, and Arishem begins his judgment of humanity to decide whether they deserve to survive. If things go wrong from here, the Eternals will have no choice but to seek help from Earth. And who better to turn to than someone who’s both an Avenger and a God? This sets up a natural team-up, with Thor joining forces with his allies, including Valkyrie, Sif, his adopted daughter Love, and other powerful heroes like Captain Marvel, for an epic clash against the all-powerful Celestials.
However, Marvel has to take care to avoid certain narrative clichés, since Thor has already teamed up with another established group of superheroes:the Guardians of the Galaxy. Another space-bound alliance could definitely feel repetitive. Furthermore, Taika Waititi brought some much-needed humor to the franchise, but it’s high time for Kevin Feige to hirea new director forThor 5to redeem the Asgardian. An on-screen partnership with the Eternals could restore at least some of the character’s former serious tone.
But the real selling point of aThor-meets-Eternalsmovie would be the prospect of a God going up against – or joining forces with – other God-like beings. Marvel can spice it up when more mythological figures are introduced, especially those tied to ancient civilizations. A prime example would be the Greek Gods, who were somewhat awkwardly introduced inThor: Love and Thunder. There’s no better time for course correction than now, and the MCU must redeem characters like Zeus and Hercules, who are set on hunting down Thor.
Thor and the Eternals’ Future in the MCU
As for the Eternals, Marvel won’t risk shaking its current slate’s stability, and they might just continue pretending like the Chloe Zhao movie never existed. But the ongoing Multiverse Saga does offer a lot of creative wiggle room togive the Eternals a second chance. It’s just going to take some careful bending around a few sacred timelines and events for the ancient heroes. In fact, aThor and Eternalsfilm could be the perfect bridge betweenAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars.
Does this necessarily have to be Thor’s last movie? Most likely, yes. The rumoredThor 5would potentially signal the end of Chris Hemsworth’s long-standing presence in the franchise. The actor himself hinted at this inan interview with Vanity Fair, where he addressed the possibility of Thor’s death, which would be a bittersweet farewell to the Asgardian:
I feel like we’d probably have to close the book if I ever did it again, you know what I mean? I feel like it probably warrants that. I feel like it’d probably be the finale, but that’s not based on anything anyone’s told me or any sort of plans. You have this birth of a hero, the journey of a hero, then the death of a hero, and I don’t know—am I at that stage? Who knows?
But in theMarvel Cinematic Universe, no one ever truly dies. Just as Hugh Jackman’s Logan was brought back forDeadpool andWolverine, Marvel might just make Hemsworth do this till he’s ninety. So, Thor’s fate may get sealed in the next movie, but no goodbye is final.
MCU
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a sprawling movie and television franchise that weaves together individual stories of superheroes including Captain America, Thor, Spider-Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and many more. The first film in the franchise, Iron Man, was released in 2008. The MCU has garnered critical praise and financial success, earning billions at the box office and becoming a cultural phenomenon.
