Once Avengers: Endgame is out of the way, it seems that the next truly big Marvel Studios smash hit is going to be The Eternals. The movie is said to explore some corners of the MCU we haven’t seen yet, with Jack Kirby’s characters battling their way through history as they confront their nemeses, The Deviants.
Now, we’re hearing that the studio is in the middle of casting for the project and that they’re narrowing their search for who’ll play James, a character described as “intellectual, emotional and has a strong sense of family.” Though no one’s been chosen just yet, apparently Marvel is looking at openly gay or bisexual Asian actors for the role.
That Hashtag Show claims that Conrad Ricamora is at the top of the list right now and while he may not be a household name, he’s appeared in TV series like How To Get Away With Murder and is also an award-winning theatrical performer. Aside from him, we know that Angelina Jolie will be playing Sersi, with Kumail Nanjiani also joining the cast, rumored to be playing Makkari.
This news certainly fits with Joe Russo’s comments earlier this week that “the future of these movies will be an inclusive one. Diversity, both in front of and behind the camera, will be its gold standard.” It seems that the studio has looked to the box office performance of films like Black Panther and Captain Marvel, both of which marketed themselves on their diversity credentials, and have concluded that they’re onto a good thing.
Naturally, news like this is probably going to drive the chuds insane with rage. But while I’m sure a superhero movie starring a white male lead will never be too far away, it’s nice to see Marvel Studios staking their claim as a progressively minded and inclusive studio going forward. And once they’ve settled on someone to lead The Eternals, we’ll be sure to let you know.