At first glance, the story of “Thor – Love and Thunder” seems to be self-sufficient. But one of his characters references “Guardians of the Galaxy 2” and “Eternals”-SPOILERS ALERT!!!
WARNING: The following article contains some spoilers about the plot of “Thor – Love and Thunder”. Continue if you haven’t seen the Taika Waititi movie yet.
Is Thor – Love and Thunder really as standalone as we think? At first glance, Taika Waititi’s film seems self-sufficient, tending to confirm Marvel’s refusal to throw the gates of its multiverse wide open just yet. One character, however, links him to at least two MCU works and could well allow him to broaden his horizon.
Eternity, since it is about him, is also not so much a character as a cosmic entity. The one Gorr (Christian Bale) seeks to grant his wish, which is to kill all the gods. In the end, the great villain of the story will return to his vengeful desires to resurrect his daughter (India Rose Hemsworth), whose death we saw in the prologue. Even if the powers of the necroblade with which he committed his murders do not take his life.
Viewers won’t see any more of Eternity’s powers, and many won’t realize the extent of his power, even though he represents the entire main Marvel Universe (aka 616) in the comics. Because this starry silhouette, created in 1965 in a Doctor Strange adventure, is made up of all living things, places, spaces and moments.
Only the Living Tribunal, another cosmic entity represented by the statues of its members (including the Guardian, seen in the What If…? series, with a starry appearance reminiscent of Eternity) in the room of the final fight between Thor , Jane and Gorr, is supposed to get over it.
marvel comics
eternity in comics
For readers, this brief appearance from Eternity will no doubt raise some questions. In particular about the version seen on screen: is it the specific entity of the universe of Thor and the Avengers? Of that of another universe, since each one has their own? Even the combination of all its iterations, which exists in the comics? The mystery is, for the moment, complete. And it’s not even certain that Kevin Feige and the authors of Love and Thunder have decided when it’s time to show it here.
The truth is that Eternity is expanding the collection of cosmic characters seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As Dormammu, villain of Doctor Strange. Blackagar Boltagan, aka Black Arrow (Anson Mount), moved on to the sequel. Or the Celestials, who play a central role in The Eternals that we find ourselves in the corner of a Love and Thunder plan, which the most observant had noticed from one of the trailers.
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Celestials in “Thor – Love and Thunder”
It should also be noted that the Infinity Gauntlet used by Thanos is of cosmic origin. Like the living planet Ego, father of Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy 2. Movie in which Eternity is first mentioned, when the hero played by Chris Pratt, about to move to the parent’s camp of the, I saw her eyes fill with stars. And that’s when she said the word “Eternity”. In 2017, the year of the release of James Gunn’s feature film, few fans had caught the reference, especially since it could also refer to infinite time.
Since the release of Thor – Love and Thunder, this sequence takes on a whole new meaning. And who knows if it’s not a preview of Guardians of the Galaxy 3, which is expected in our theaters on May 3? Eternity may also serve to lure one of his future big bads into the MCU. As the Beyonder, another cosmic being, famous for his role in the crossover secret wars. Or Galactus, mythical adversary of the Fantastic 4, whose arrival is supposed to be imminent. Subject to follow.