Following her portrayal of Minn-Erva, a blue-skinned villain who was part of the Kree Starforce in 2019’s Captain Marvel along with Brie Larson, actress Gemma Chan was all excited to be part of MCU again in Eternals (2021). Despite grossing $402 million worldwide, the film stands as the lowest-rated film in the MCU. The budget of this movie was $236 million.
However, Gemma Chan has some nice things to say about the film. The movie got 47% positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, surpassing 2013’s Thor: Dark World, which sits at a 67% rating. The film has been commended for its world-building and visuals, yet has been most criticized for its lack of Marvel action.
Gemma Chan Opens Up About Eternals
Gemma Chan portrays the character Sersi, one of the lead Eternals and a central figure in the film’s storyline. Among the Eternals, she is known for her deep empathy and connection to humanity. Sersi has lived among humans for centuries, often taking on different identities and roles throughout history.
While talking about the film, Chan told Marvel in an interview that she feels very lucky to be a part of that phase. She said:
“I should say I feel very lucky to be in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Being part of this new phase and a new group of characters is quite exciting. And I think this film is trying to do something a little bit different than what has come before.”
Written by Zhao, Ryan Firpo, and Kaz Firpo, Eternals introduces a new group of superheroes, the titular Eternals, who have lived in secret on Earth for 7000 years. Created by entities called Celestials, they were tasked with protecting the earth from the Deviants, their misshapen, and evil counterparts.
Along with Chan, the film stars Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Salma Hayek, Angelina Jolie, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Ridloff, Barry Keoghan, Don Lee, Gil Birmingham, Harish Patel, and Kit Harington.
What Was Gemma Chan’s Reaction on being called for Second time in MCU?
Gemma Chan, the star of Eternals, has the rare privilege of playing two distinct characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Chan’s part in Eternals is her second after her appearance in Captain Marvel along with Brie Larson, while there are other people, still waiting to be called up to the biggest evolving plot in the history of cinema.
In an interview with EW, she confessed that she was not expecting any second call from MCU. She told:
“I was not expecting to be asked back so soon. When I spoke to [Marvel Studios president] Kevin Feige and he said, “We would love to have you back,” I thought he was just being nice. Like, maybe at some point in the distant future, if at all.”
Just like many others, she was also a big fan of this franchise but never thought that she would be called to join them, that too twice. She said to Coup de Main:
“I was a fan of the fan of MCU before joining it. I never dreamed I’d be part of it, let alone twice. It’s quite a dreamlike experience to being a part of it.”
Despite its mixed reception, Eternals was still a visually stunning film with a talented cast. It remains to be seen how the film will be remembered in the long run, but it is clear that it did not have the same impact as other MCU films.
Watch Eternals on Disney Plus.
