Why Eternals 2 Is Never Going to Happen: 10 Reasons Marvel Has Moved On

Numerous reports have stated that Eternals 2 is not going to happen. Despite being directed by Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao and released in November 2021, the film failed to generate the excitement and box office returns typical of a Marvel blockbuster.

While some fans have been holding out hope for a sequel, the reality is that Eternals 2 seems increasingly unlikely and will not happen. In fact, there are several compelling reasons why Marvel has seemingly moved on from this franchise.

Here’s a breakdown of why Eternals 2 is not in the cards and shouldn’t happen.

1. Kevin Feige has stated there are no immediate plans for Eternals 2

Speaking with Inverse prior to Comic-Con, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige provided an update on the future of the Eternals franchise.

Feige told the site, “There are no immediate plans for Eternals 2.”

This lack of urgency is telling, especially considering that Eternals introduced the massive Celestial reveal, which has since been largely ignored within the MCU. Feige did mention that the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World will “acknowledge” this event, saying, “There are, and I think you’ve seen maybe in a trailer we’ve released recently, an acknowledgment of some of those events. Certain giant things came out of the ocean,” referencing Tiamut Island, the landmass that formed from the Celestial.

While this acknowledgment exists, it’s a far cry from a sequel.

2. Variety has reported that Marvel is reportedly not developing a sequel

Following Kevin Feige’s statement, Variety weighed in on the future of the Eternals franchise in a report centered around Kit Harington. The publication stated, “Marvel is reportedly not developing a sequel.”

This report from a reliable industry source like Variety adds further weight that Eternals 2 is not in Marvel’s future plans.

3. Bob Iger is said to have mentioned that Eternals 2 will flop

Bob Iger, who has certainly has access to Marvel’s official numbers, reportedly believes that a sequel to Eternals would flop—a sentiment that carries significant weight given the recent struggles of Kevin Feige’s Phase 4 and Phase 5. It’s no secret that Iger is pulling back on Marvel’s output, favoring quality over quantity.

According to scooper Daniel RPK, Iger has nixed the idea of Eternals 2. Iger’s decision is said to be influenced by the recent failures of Quantumania and The Marvels, leading Iger to conclude that Eternals 2 would be a “guaranteed flop” and a colossal waste of resources.

The rumor also suggests that Disney is pushing Marvel to focus on “guaranteed hits,” further dimming the chances of an Eternals sequel ever seeing the light of day.

4. Box Office Disappointment

Despite being a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Eternals significantly underperformed at the box office compared to other MCU entries. The film brought in only $402 million worldwide, making it the third lowest-grossing MCU movie to date.

In stark contrast, just a month after Eternals hit theaters, Spider-Man: No Way Home was released and went on to gross over a billion dollars worldwide, highlighting the gap in audience interest.

Although Eternals opened to a respectable $70 million domestically, its box office numbers quickly diminished, signaling a lack of sustained interest from MCU fans.

This financial shortfall is a major factor in why a sequel seems increasingly unlikely.

5. The Rotten Tomatoes score from critics is only 47%

Despite featuring a diverse director and cast that reviewers favor, Eternals was not well-received by critics. The film currently holds a Rotten Tomatoes score of just 47%, officially classifying it as “Rotten.” This makes it the second-lowest rated MCU film on the platform, only narrowly surpassing Quantumania’s 46%.

The harsh critical reception is a clear indication that Eternals failed to resonate with reviewers, further dampening the prospects of a sequel.

6. The Audience Score is only 77%

Similarly, the Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score, now known as the Popcornmeter, stands at just 77%—a surprisingly low rating for a superhero film. This suggests that a significant portion of fans were not happy with the movie. In fact, it ranks as the eighth lowest audience score for an MCU film.

This lukewarm reception from viewers further diminishes the chances of Marvel investing in a sequel.

7. Shifting Focus to Proven Franchises: Avengers, X-Men

Marvel Studios is redirecting its resources toward franchises with proven success, such as The Avengers.

At Comic-Con, the big news was the return of Robert Downey Jr. to the MCU, along with the Russo Brothers. Downey Jr. will return as Doctor Doom and star in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

Additionally, there is speculation that Kevin Feige will shift the MCU’s focus to the more popular X-Men franchise, with rumors swirling that Henry Cavill might be cast as the new Wolverine (we’re told Cavill is in talks).

“I said the mutants were coming and it all starts with this movie,” Feige said at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere, with the flick now well over a billion dollars at the box office. 

With Marvel prioritizing these major franchises, it’s clear that a risky sequel like Eternals 2 isn’t a priority, especially considering Eternals came with nearly a $300 million price tag.

8. Kit Harington has been cut from Blade

Kit Harington and Mahershala Ali were featured in the Eternals post-credit scene, hinting at future storylines. However, it now appears that these plans are going nowhere. Reportedly, amidst all the changes and fixes to the problematic Blade movie, Kit Harington has been written out of earlier versions of the script and likely won’t be appearing in the MCU anytime soon.

In a recent interview with GQ, Harington discussed his role as Dane Whitman, aka Black Knight, but notably did not mention any plans to continue with the MCU: “I’m not gonna pretend I took that [role] because it was different and interesting. If Marvel calls, you gotta do it.”

With Harington’s future in the MCU up in the air, the potential for an Eternals sequel seems increasingly unlikely.

9. Kevin Feige is said to have fired the woke producers

According to Chris Gore of Film Threat, Marvel insiders have revealed that Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios have “cleaned house,” quietly firing producers labeled as activists. Gore claims, “I do know people who work at Marvel. They have cleaned house. They quietly, months ago, fired all the producers that could be labeled activist.”

Gore also explained that Feige reportedly acknowledged the failures of Phase 4, saying, “We tried it, it didn’t work.” This shift in direction reportedly included the dismissal of creatives who were unfamiliar with the original comic books—a criticism leveled at Nate Moore, the Marvel producer responsible for the “diversity” and race and gender swapping in Eternals. Moore, who openly admitted he doesn’t hire creatives who read comics, is now only listed as a producer on Captain America: Brave New World, which has undergone major rewrites and reshoots.

Gore concludes that while this “sea change” will take years to fully manifest, it signals a clear departure from the strategies that led to Eternals and its underwhelming reception. This overhaul makes it even less likely that Eternals 2 will move forward.

10. Kumail Nanjiani is claimed to be playing Booster Gold

Kumail Nanjiani, who played Kingo in Marvel’s Eternals, doesn’t appear to be returning to the MCU. Instead, rumors suggest that Nanjiani has jumped ship to James Gunn’s DCU, where he is reportedly set to play Booster Gold.

These rumors gained traction after Nanjiani was recently spotted in Paris with DCU co-head Peter Safran and the cast of Superman. Adding fuel to the fire, Safran’s wife “liked” a comment on social media about Nanjiani playing Booster Gold, according to Redditors.

If Nanjiani is indeed moving to the DCU, it suggests the actors are also moving on, and it further diminishes the likelihood of their return in an Eternals sequel, signaling yet another reason why Eternals 2 is unlikely to happen.