Category: Features

When most actors sign on to appear in a Marvel Studios film, they do so without a clear idea of how long their character will be around. In the past, Marvel Studios was known to sign actors for six-picture deals, however, that has since changed. Still, it’s hard to imagine most actors don’t envision a future for their characters within the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe at one point or another. For Eternals actor Lia McHugh, she’s unsure of Sprite’s future but seems hopeful.

In an exclusive interview with Murphy’s Multiverse, McHugh briefly discussed her future as Sprite. While she can’t comment on future appearances, the actress does discuss how she has earned the distinction of being the youngest superhero within the Marvel Cinematic Universe – despite playing a character well over thousands of years old.

You know, as a kid you sort of daydream about different, crazy things that don’t ever really come true. And I never thought in a million years that I would play a superhero because there’s never really been a kid superhero, especially at this level in the MCU. So, when I got this part, I was absolutely shocked and its been special that I’m the youngest superhero in the MCU. I’ve officially gotten that title. I really can’t comment on any future movies, they don’t tell me anything. So, you probably know more than I do.

She is open to doing voice work in an animated project, though. When asked if she would voice Sprite in an animated series for Marvel, McHugh kept it simple.

I mean, I don’t know. I would probably be open to anything.

Fans can meet McHugh’s Sprite when Eternals hits theaters on Nov. 5.

Marvel Studios’ latest blockbuster, Eternals, will not only tell the story of some of its oldest characters. The film will also debut 10 brand new heroes into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including Lia McHugh‘s Sprite. During an exclusive interview with Murphy’s Multiverse, the young actress briefly discussed the long casting process she endured for the role as Sprite.

During our one-on-one interview with McHugh, we asked her about the casting process for her role as Sprite in Eternals. Interestingly enough, McHugh revealed she auditioned for Marvel television roles in the past.

I had auditioned for, I think, a couple of Marvel TV shows when I was a lot younger. So, it was the same studio that I had been to for auditions back when we used to do in-person auditions.

At the time, McHugh wasn’t entirely sure what she was auditioning for, although she had her suspicions it could be for Marvel again. As we’ve seen in the past, Marvel Studios used fake sides for the casting process, which threw the young actress for a loop.

I kind of had the idea that it was something for Marvel. I didn’t know what, um, it was weird sides and the description was someone with dark hair, dark eyes. I remember when I went in, I was like ‘Just so you know, I’m willing to dye my hair and wear contacts’.

Eventually, McHugh was brought in to audition once again. This time, though, she was given real sides, and she realized she was auditioning for the chance to be a superhero.

I got a callback and then, I think my second round of callbacks, I finally got real sides. “It was one or two scenes… and I was sort of able to figure out who Sprite was by googling and I was like ‘Oh my gosh, this is for an Eternal. I could play a superhero.’

McHugh would go on to do a massive screentest on a soundstage in front of director Chloé Zhao and the film’s producers, where she found herself feeling nervous. She was told she would hear back within 30 days regarding whether or not she got the part. To her surprise, at the end of the 30 days, she was then flown out to London to do a screen test with Richard Madden at Pinewood Studios.

I got to go to London for a week before I even got the part, and I got to meet Richard Madden. And then, it was actually my brother’s birthday when we got the call, and they called my mom and she accidentally hung up the phone because she was so nervous. They called back and she woke me up because I was asleep… and we all started crying. It was a very vigorous process.

It was a long process for the young actress, but luckily, McHugh secured the role as Sprite. Fans can catch McHugh in Marvel Studios’ Eternals when it hits theaters on Nov. 5.

Major studio films rarely stay the same from start to finish. Whether it be thanks to reshoots or constant script changes, movies are constantly evolving. It would seem Marvel Studios’ newest blockbuster saw plenty of changes, too, throughout production. During an exclusive interview with Murphy’s Multiverse, Eternals star Lia McHugh revealed she was caught off guard by a handful of changes made to the movie between the time of filming and its release. Of course, this is common practice for the House of Ideas. Sometimes it’s meant to keep actors in the dark. Other times, however, the alterations are made to enhance the quality of the film. Either way, statements regarding alterations throughout production have become a recurring statement among those involved with Marvel’s projects. 

When asked directly if any parts of the final product were a surprise to her, McHugh responded:

There were a lot of changes… I mean, not a lot. There were a few changes made from when we shot the movie and then a couple things were changed in reshoots.

While this may not be all too interesting, it’s what she says next that will pique fans’ interest:

One of the after-credits scenes I was surprised. I watched like a rough cut of the movie before I saw the final cut, and I actually was surprised by a few things. I can’t say too much about it. But yeah, there were a few things that were changed that I was surprised.

It’s important to note that the up-and-coming actress does not specify what she was surprised by; it could have been because the after-credit scene was changed, or simply because she didn’t know it existed. Either way, it would appear Marvel Studios had a few secrets up its sleeve for both audiences and the cast of Chloe Zhao‘s latest work. 

Eternals hits theaters on November 5, should fans like to see what surprises McHugh might have been talking about.