Chloe Zhao's Eternals is Angelina Jolie's introduction into the Marvel universe, but she has truly fallen in love with the tight family unit of the MCU. The character of Thena was most certainly not the first superhero role to have been presented to Jolie, therefore her decision to sign onto this film and play this character specifically is incredibly intentional, and reprising the role is not outside the possibility.
Despite Jolie's Eternals character, Thena, being able to wield weapons of sorcery at the tip of her fingers, it was the idea of being a part of a large family dynamic that sold her the role. The theme of family is an important, irreplaceable value to Jolie, both in her professional and personal life. The type of family that can be built while on set with co-stars can turn out to be a life-long bond. However, it seems really exciting for Jolie to play a character in Eternals whose priorities and whose outer world reflect that very same value.
Jolie revealed in a recent interview with CinePop that she was “waiting for the right part, and previous proposals didn’t feel like the right one.” So what exactly made the character of Thena and the Eternals clan stand out from the rest? The A-list actress’s career has been filled with leading lady roles and will most likely always continue to be that way for her. The opportunity to be a part of something bigger and stand alongside the MCU family feels gratifying for her at this point in her life. Jolie stated, “I loved being part of the family, so I have no desire to separate from the family. But I would be happy to play her again and explore even more deeply the struggles that she has. I think it’s fun thinking of where they’ve been over the years. We’ve got thousands of years worth of material. We can take her anywhere. I think that’s fun and I like the idea that we can pop up somewhere, maybe in other Marvel movies.”
Although fans may never get to witness a solo movie with Thena where her story and perspective is the centerpiece of the film, maybe that isn’t the point. Jolie may be declining any possibility of a solo movie because she values family, but the theme of community and collective survival is the foundation of Eternals. Take that theme away and it might take some of the magic away with it. The MCU family is not something Jolie is willing to part from and that might just be okay.
At this point, it seems Marvel Studios has no plans to produce Eternals sequels. So, what awaits Jolie's Thena is up in the air, but most fans would likely agree that the character's return might not feel the same without her Eternals family.
Eternals is now playing in theaters.