It’s amazing there will be young boys and girls seeing themselves represented
Star-studded Marvel movie Eternals is the first to feature a deaf character. GEORGIA HUMPHREYS finds out more
MARVEL movies always come with plenty of expectation, but the latest, Eternals, is being hailed as truly groundbreaking.
The story of a race of immortal aliens who arrived on Earth thousands of years ago to protect humanity, not only does it feature the most international and diverse cast to date from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) but it introduces us to fighter Makkari.
Her cosmic energy makes her the fastest woman in the universe and she is also the MCU’s first deaf character.
Chicago-born Lauren Ridloff, 43, who you may know as Chloe in smash hit TV series The Walking Dead, takes on the role.
The former Miss Deaf America is clearly aware of the impact that her appearance on screen will have on audiences.
Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, the actress said she felt that Makkari – who in the comics is portrayed as a hearing white man – was “so important for the deaf community”.
She added: “I didn’t dream of becoming an actor because I didn’t see enough of myself on screen. I didn’t get to dream that big, so now, with Eternals, I’m hoping that more people will be able to dream bigger. If I can do it, they can do it.”
Some of Lauren’s co-stars have already seen the reaction to Makkari for themselves.
Game Of Thrones actor Kit Harington, who plays Dane Whitman, a human character in Eternals, recalls: “We’ve just come from Italy,
I was with Angelina (Jolie), and we were talking to some kids that have watched the film, and one of them was a deaf child and he was very moved that there was a deaf superhero.
“It really touched us because I think that, if you look at it from that perspective, it’s finally someone talking your language in a film; rather than you reading subtitles, it’s someone reaching out and saying something that you can understand. It’s really stayed with me, that moment.”
Kit’s view is echoed by co-star Gemma Chan, who plays Eternal Sersi. “It’s amazing that there will be young boys and girls seeing themselves represented in a film like this, maybe for the first time,” says the Londonborn Crazy Rich Asians star.
“I also hope we’re moving towards a point where it’s no longer a big deal that we have a diverse cast like this. It’s not just about race, ethnicity, it’s about ability, sexual orientation...”
The 38-year-old continues: “These characters that have been around since the dawn of civilisation, it just makes sense that they should represent the beauty and the breadth of humanity.”
The Eternals, who also include the likes of powerful warrior Thena, played by Angelina, originate from a distant planet called Olympia.
As represented by the cast, the Eternals on Earth are a diverse and powerful group who share cosmic energy. This manifests as different powers within each individual, which compliment each other.
If they are connected and in proximity with one other, they can pool their energy together to create the Uni-Mind, a concept that allows the superheroes to amplify the power of any single Eternal.
Inspired by Jack Kirby’s original Eternals Marvel comic books, first published in 1976, and directed by Chinese film-maker Chloe Zhao, who won an Oscar for Nomadland, the story takes place across two timelines.
There is the past when the Eternals operated as a formidable team and a close family unit, and the present, which sees the group split apart, living among humans.
But the Deviants, a monstrous race of alien predators threatening the existence of mankind, means they must put their differences aside and come together again.
“I was a huge fan of the MCU before I joined it, I never expected to be part of it,” says Gemma, who also starred in 2019’s Captain Marvel as Minn-Erva. “I feel very lucky that this is my second go in the MCU, and this time, I’m not painted blue, so that was great, saved four hours in hair and make-up.”
Also joining the cast is Richard Madden, star of hit BBC drama, The Bodyguard. The Scottish actor, 35, revelled in playing Ikaris, who can fly and blast powerful beams from his eyes.
“This piece, for my character, is all to do with Gemma’s character, Sersi, and love,” he teases.
“And that’s something that is really great to explore, and also just to work out who all these people are and what relationships they’ve had between each other.”
Eternals meant a reunion for Richard and Kit, who played Robb
Stark and Jon Snow in the hit HBO series Game Of Thrones even if, in both projects, they have a very limited amount of screen time together.
“We’ve been friends for a long time,” gushes Londoner Kit, 34.
“We’ve come up in the industry together. We were 21 starting (Game of) Thrones, and we were just so excited about it, and looking back, we were just little kids.
“And then being in Camden on a Marvel set together, it doesn’t leave you how special that is.”
He confides that playing Jon Snow at least prepared him well for the huge level of secrecy surrounding the world of Marvel.
“I think it’s the best schooling there is. I do feel having gone through nine years of press for Thrones and having to keep secrets that I’m probably as trained up as you can be for this type of press.”
For Salma Hayek however, playing a superhero in a huge franchise was a first, despite her more than three decades in the acting game.
“I haven’t had a chance to explore being a superhero in the past, or (be) part of a franchise that is actually the biggest one ever, or to explore being a part of the most diverse cast that’s ever been made in a film, a lot of exploration,” notes the Mexican-born actress, 55, who takes on the role of Ajak, the matriarch and the spiritual leader of the Eternals.
“And it’s not my first time, but it is a rare jewel to be able to work with a female director.”
Eternals is in cinemas now
I was a huge fan of the MCU before I joined it, I never expected to be part of it Gemma Chan