The MCU’s First Rotten Movie’s Sequel Chances Addressed By Director, After 4 Years of Silence

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Marvel Studios became known for consistently successful blockbusters during the run of the Infinity Saga, with the first 25 movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (including early films from the Multiverse Saga) all receiving positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. However, that impressive streak ended four years ago with the release of Eternals, which earned a disappointing 47% rating – making it the first truly ‘Rotten’ MCU film. As a result, there are currently no plans for a sequel to Eternals, though director Chloe Zhao still hopes one will happen.

In an interview with Screen Rant, the Academy Award-winning director expressed her desire to revisit the world of Eternals in a potential sequel. She stated she’d enjoy continuing to explore relevant themes and is very proud of the film.

Will Marvel Ever Make Eternals 2?

The idea behind the Eternals still has a lot of promise. The first movie left several storylines open, hinting at future adventures with threats from Arishem, the Black Knight, and the introduction of Eros. Although Captain America: Brave New World brought back Celestial Island, Marvel hasn’t really built on the concepts introduced in Eternals recently. The reappearance of the island suggests that Kevin Feige and the team haven’t forgotten about Eternals and are looking for ways to tie it into the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe, but a sequel to Eternals doesn’t seem likely at the moment.

Rumors suggest that Avengers: Secret Wars will gently refresh the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Instead of completely starting over, the movie will likely remove storylines or characters that haven’t been very successful. Eternals appears to be one of those. While the film was ambitious and tried to introduce a lot of new heroes, it didn’t quite click with viewers or critics. Given Marvel’s recent performance at the box office, the studio probably won’t risk another project that doesn’t have strong potential. That’s why future movies are expected to focus on established and popular characters like Spider-Man, the Avengers, and the X-Men.

Had Eternals been more successful, Marvel had significant plans for its characters and future installments. Actor Kumail Nanjiani revealed his contract included appearances in six movies, plus a video game and theme park ride. However, due to the film’s mixed reception, none of those plans materialized. The omission of any Eternals cast members from the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday—currently featuring 27 actors with potential for more—is a clear indication of the franchise’s stalled status. While rumors swirl about other potential Avengers additions like Spider-Man and Wolverine, there’s been no mention of the Eternals. It’s likely Marvel would have integrated the Eternals into future Avengers films if they still intended to pursue a sequel.

It’s a shame that Eternals won’t get a sequel, despite having a lot of potential. The movie attempted a fresh approach to the typical Marvel formula and cleverly expanded the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Given her talent, director Zhao likely had compelling ideas for future installments, and it’s a pity she won’t get to explore them. However, Marvel’s decision to not heavily feature Eternals in future plans makes sense. The franchise was incredibly successful when the movie was made, but now needs to refocus and simplify its storylines for the long term.

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2025-11-23 19:10