Marvel Studios’ next big franchise is being prepped for launch, as Chloe Zhao, known for The Rider, has been tapped to direct The Eternals.
Matthew and Ryan Firpo penned the script, which focuses on the cosmic heroes created by legendary Marvel creator Jack Kirby.
The Hollywood Reporter, who scored the exclusive scoop, also say that one aspect to the story involves the love story between Ikaris, a man fueled by cosmic energy, and Sersi, who relishes moving amongst humans. Marvel is also looking to have a diverse cast of various shapes and sizes.
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Zhao was on a director shortlist that included Nicole Kassell from HBO’s Watchmen, Travis Knight from Bumblebee and Kubo and the Two Strings, as well as Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra, the duo behind Colombian movie Birds of Passage. She was also a front runner to direct the Black Widow film before Cate Shortland was selected.
Zhao is repped by WME. Marvel has declined to comment at the time.
Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, Avengers: Infinity War stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, Danai Gurira, Peter Dinklage, Benedict Wong, Pom Klementieff, Karen Gillan, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow, Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, and Chris Pratt.
As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment – the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain.
Avengers: Infinity War is now on Digital and Blu-ray, while the Untitled Avengers 4 hits theaters on May 3rd, 2019.
