While Eternals has only been in theatres for less than a month, one of the film's writers is hinting at what fans can expect in future sequels. According to co-writer Kaz Firpo, Richard Madden's powerful Ikaris is confirmed to not be returning at all.
In Eternals' finale, the guilt-ridden Ikaris ultimately decides to fly into the Sun after his loyalties to the Celestials and their plans to destroy Earth in order for the Emergence to occur (the birth of the new celestial Tiamut) forced him to kill Ajak (Salma Hayek) and betray the rest of the Eternals. While it may have been obvious to many, other fans were speculating whether or not Madden's Ikaris could potentially make a return (considering his gifted powers and how he is built like Superman).
But in a new interview with Comic Book Resources, Firpo confirmed that Ikaris is dead and will not be returning."What is the melting point of an Eternal? How long does it take to literally melt an Eternal robot?" added Firpo. "For what it's worth... yeah, it was always that. He can't bear to face his family after what he's done, which he realizes.” While Ikaris' ultimately failed to stop the other Eternals from preventing the emergence, his beliefs and ideals were hinted at during the whole film, as he told Ajak where stands and why he continues to serve the celestials. This duality then creates a very engaging character due to Ikaris believing he is doing the right thing.
"I don't think that Ikarus even thinks that he's wrong, I think that he just has so much regret," Firpo further added. "He's very sorry. I think he's sorry for the way he lived his whole life on this planet, and that's a lot of burden to carry. So really, that act is basically saying, 'I made a mistake, but I can't face my family, and I can't go on living.'" In terms of deciding how the former Eternal would pass, Firpo recalled, "It began as an exile that I think, throughout the course of the filmmaking, really became something that needed to be definitive. It really is a moment of saying, 'It's sacrifice.' It's sort of saying, 'I can't serve the Eternals. If I can't serve the Celestials, and I can't be with my family, then I choose this third option,' which — for him — really is oblivion. So yeah, he dead."
Firpo's comments come shortly after director Chloé Zhao interpreted Ikaris as Marvel's version of Superman, and how the hero's missions can interfere with his love for others and humanity. Madden expressed his thoughts on the character, and how the divide between his duties and his love for characters like Sersi (Gemma Chan) set up a conflicted yet compelling character, ultimately being the reason that the actor was drawn to the role. While Ikaris' absence will surely be missed, Zhao's skills as a director and knack for writing three-dimensional characters will most definitely be present in any future sequels.
In terms of plot details for a sequel, fans can expect Kit Harington's Dane Whitman to have a much larger screen presence, as it is hinted in Eternals' post-credits scene that he will take up the Ebony Blade and become the Black Knight in order to rescue Sersi and a few other Eternals from the celestial Arishem. For now, though, fans will just have to make their way back to the theatre to experience the first film all over again. The film also stars Angelina Jolie as Thena, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos, Barry Keoghan as Druig, Don Lee as Gilgamesh, Lauren Ridloff as Makkari, Lia McHugh as Sprite, and Harish Patel as Karun.
Eternals is now playing in theatres.
Source: Comic Book Resources