Marvel Studios has pulled the plug on several upcoming projects: "Young Thanos," "Eternals 2," and a storyline focusing on the Celestials. To put it mildly, the MCU seems to be in a state of creative flux — like Schrödinger's cat, we never know if it's good or bad until the next instalment hits the screens. So, what's the deal with these cancellations? Let's dive in.
Thanos’ Family Drama: Harry Styles as Starfox
Credit: Marvel Studios (Disney)
First, Marvel was setting up a bigger storyline around Thanos' family, particularly his connection with Starfox, played by Harry Styles. Let's be honest — Harry Styles as Starfox was a bit of a stunt casting, and not exactly one that's had us on the edge of our seats. Marvel was apparently planning to explore Thanos' backstory, which has always been vastly different from the comics, and they would have needed to explain how Thanos and Starfox are related.
In the comics, the Eternals can have children the normal way, and Thanos is born with a Deviant gene, which is why he looks like a "purple nutsack chin." In the MCU, however, the Eternals were revealed as Celestial-created robots, incapable of biological reproduction. So, if Thanos is an Eternal from Titan, but not a robot, what gives? Perhaps they planned to hand-wave away these technicalities in "Eternals 2," but alas, we'll never get those answers. We’ll just have to keep imagining Thanos’ robotic parents doing whatever it takes to conceive him.
What’s Next for Thanos? Maybe a Theme Park
Credit: Inside The Magic
There have been murmurings of Josh Brolin returning as Thanos, but mostly in animated form or alternate universe storylines for Disney parks. Yes, Disney parks — that’s how fragmented the MCU has become. The idea is that a version of "King Thanos" will exist in some side universe, but who knows if this will have any real impact on the main MCU continuity. There’s a good chance Marvel might use Doctor Doom to wipe the floor with the old villain in "Secret Wars" and reset the slate. RIP Council of Kangs.
Black Knight and Blade: Where Did They Go?
Credit: Screenrant and Marvel Studios (Disney)
Remember that awkward post-credits scene with Kit Harington's Black Knight and the Ebony Blade? That was meant to lead into "Eternals 2" and a whole new storyline involving Mahershala Ali's Blade, setting up a darker, Midnight Sons-style team-up. Fast forward three years, and we're still waiting for that Blade movie. Instead, all we’ve got is Wesley Snipes joking about the lack of a new Blade film in "Deadpool and Wolverine." Meanwhile, Kit Harington’s Black Knight is gathering dust, waiting for his moment in a yet-to-be-greenlit "Avengers" sequel.
X-Men or Eternals? A Hard Pivot
Credit: Marvel Studios (Disney)
Now, let's rewind to when Kevin Feige began developing "The Eternals" back around the time of "Captain America: Civil War." This was before Disney bought Fox and Marvel could even think about using the X-Men. At the time, the Eternals were seen as the new X-Men — but let’s face it, they were always a weird bunch to bet the farm on.
Marvel's Phase Four has felt like a desperate search for a new direction. Originally, they were betting on the Inhumans, and then the Eternals. It was all part of a plan to replace the X-Men, but now with the Fox buyout complete, they’re clearly pivoting back to the mutants. The problem is, they’d already spent a small fortune on Eternals, so they had to release it, even if it meant doubling down on a convoluted storyline nobody really wanted.
Legal Woes and Long-Term Planning (or Lack Thereof)
Credit: Reddit
There are, of course, legal issues that have slowed down the X-Men's MCU debut. Contractual obligations meant Marvel couldn't recast all the Fox characters right away, and Kevin Feige has had to tread carefully. Yet, you’d think a corporation as large as Disney would have its plans in order, but recent years have proven otherwise. The MCU's roadmap has become more chaotic than ever, leaving many to wonder if there's even a map at all.
Pour One Out for the Eternals
So, pour a drink for "Eternals 2," "Young Thanos," and whatever the hell was supposed to happen with the Celestials. The MCU's plans have changed dramatically, and it's clear they’re trying to find their footing in a post-"Endgame" world. Whether it’s through new stories, a renewed focus on the X-Men, or just giving Robert Downey Jr. another shot at scenery-chewing as Doctor Doom, one thing is certain — the MCU is in a state of flux.
Let us know in the comments how you’d like to see these characters return (if at all), or if you think it's time for the MCU to move on to newer pastures. Just know, whenever they do decide to announce something, we'll be here to break it down, snark included.
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