With the Infinity Saga coming to a close, Marvel Studios is preparing to launch into an all-new, all-different era beginning with Phase 4. While several properties are going to serve as deeper dives into already established characters and worlds, Eternals is going to introduce new characters and change what we think we know about the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Eternals were born in the mind of Jack Kirby as Marvel Comics “ancient aliens”: beings of immense power who had protected Earth since the beginning of time. Over the course of history, the Eternals and their enemies, the Deviants, worked their way into the religions and mythologies of many cultures gods and monsters, angels and devils and heroes and villains. Marvel Studios will certainly put their own spin on the characters, but we can still take an opportunity to get to know them here…in 400 words or less!
The daughter of the modern Prime Eternal, Zuras, Thena has been a part of the Marvel Comic mythology since she first appeared as the Roman goddess Minerva in 1940’s Red Raven #1. Retconned by Jack Kirby in Eternals #5, Thena has served as one of the Eternals fiercest warriors, often being confused for Minerva’s Greek counterpart and daughter of Zeus, Athena, over time. While Thena has served as the tip of the spear in the Eternals endless battles with the Deviants, she also found herself falling in love with one of their most ruthless warlords and eventual leader, Kro, over the course of a couple of thousand years. Thena became pregnant with twins which she decided to transfer into the womb of a mortal woman who then gave birth to the Deviant-Eternal hybrids. Those children, Deborah and Donald, eventually learned their true origins and of their incredible power: they could merge into one being, the Dark Angel, who grew wings and could, like many Eternals, project powerful beams from its eyes.
Angelina Jolie will portray the warrior Thena in Eternals. Interestingly, trailers have shown Thena interacting with the Deviant Kro. It’ll be interesting to see if Thena and Kro take on the role of star-crossed lovers in the film and go on to conceive the twins. While the length of Jolie’s contract with Marvel Studios is unknown, Thena’s character is one that is primed to appear in multiple films, especially if they adapt the story of her children with Kro. We also know that Thena will be affected by Mahd Wy’ry, a cognitive condition brought on by their long life that causes them to forget and can potentially drive them mad, making Thena, one of the Eternals fiercest warriors, a potential threat.
Eternals will hit theaters November 5th!
