Gemma Chan is in talks to join Marvel Studios’ Eternals cast, reportedly as a new Marvel Cinematic Universe character, while Dunkirk actor Barry Keoghan is in talks as well. An ensemble superhero movie, Eternals was officially confirmed during Marvel Studios’ Hall H panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2019. In addition to the film’s 2020 release date, the movie’s main cast was also confirmed and joined director Chloé Zhao on stage in Hall H to tease the upcoming film as part of Phase 4 of the MCU.

Eternals stars Salma Hayek as the leader of the Eternals Ajak, Angelina Jolie as Thena, Richard Madden as Ikaris, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, Lauren Ridloff as the MCU’s first deaf superhero Makkari, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos, Lia McHugh as Sprite and Don Lee as Gilgamesh. Now, another two roles are close to being cast as Eternals aims to start filming later this year.

According to Variety, actress Gemma Chan is in talks to join the cast of Eternals. Chan previously played Kree warrior Minn-Erva in Captain Marvel, a member of the Starfore alongside Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers. Variety is reporting that it’s unclear whether Chan will reprise her role as Minn-Erva, but some of the publication’s sources indicate she’ll play a new MCU character. Marvel Studios declined to comment on the report. In addition to Variety’s report, Collider is reporting that Dunkirk actor Barry Keoghan is in talks for Eternals in an unknown role.

The Eternals cast Marvel Studios had already assembled is a mix of well-established A-listers and relative unknowns. In the studio’s early days, they tended to cast more up-and-comers than established movie stars - though plenty of iconic actors have joined the ranks of the superhero universe. But as the MCU has grown in popularity, Marvel Studios has been able to attract top tier talent, leading to a project like Eternals that stars both Jolie and Hayek amid established actors like Madden, Nanjiani, Henry and Lee as well as up-and-comers. It seems Marvel is looking to fill out the cast of Eternals with rising stars, including both Chan and Keoghan, who have broken out in recent years.

However, it is a little strange for Marvel Studios to step on its own toes by potentially bringing Chan back in a different role. It’s not yet confirmed that’s what Marvel is doing, since the studio hadn’t commented on the casting. But while actors have appeared in different roles from MCU movies to TV, it’s extremely rare that a movie actor would be brought back in a different film role - especially when Eternals is hitting theaters less than two years after Captain Marvel. Of course, so long as Chan has a different look than the blue-skinned Minn-Erva, it’s likely audiences would understand the Eternals character is different.

No matter what, the full Eternals cast should be made public once the movie officially begins filming this year. And fans can look forward to Eternals and the rest of Marvel Studios’ Phase 4 of the MCU in the coming years.

Next: MCU Phase 4 Is As Big As Phase 3 (But Releasing Twice As Fast)

Source: Variety, Collider

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