Chloe Zhao Reflects on Eternals Criticism

As the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania team is now finding out for themselves, there’s no guarantee that a Marvel superhero movie will be a big hit, no matter how popular some of those MCU-set movies have been. The third Ant-Man film was met with mixed reviews upon its release and is tied with Eternals as the lowest-scored Marvel films on Rotten Tomatoes. Both films also fell short of expectations at the box office.

In a new interview with THR, Eternals director Chloe Zhao commented on the criticism that befell her film when it was released in 2021. She noted how it is “almost impossible” to please everyone when you’re dealing with an audience the size of the Marvel fan base. Knowing that she’d be experiencing some level of criticism regardless, Zhao says her focus was on carrying out her vision to make the film as great as could possibly be.

“When you’re in Marvel and when you’re dealing with an audience that big, I truly treasure and respect that each of us is so unique. It’s exciting that we’re all so different, and we’re all changing and growing every day. But with a global audience, it’s almost impossible to make everybody perfectly happy, and to do that is to say that everyone is the same. So I think there’s inevitably going to be that [difference of opinion], and you just have to stay true to the kind of film you want to make and who you are and the people you’re collaborating with. That’s all you can do, really, and have a good time. Everything else is out of your control.”

In the THR interview, it’s suggested that Eternals could come to be better appreciated by fans eventually, as perhaps it’s just a bit ahead of it’s time. Zhao adds that making movies timeless is the ultimate goal of a filmmaker, and she says she’ll be “lucky” if that happens with Eternals.

“When you’re making films, timelessness [is the goal] If you’re lucky. You definitely don’t want to make films just for the moment. But you first have to be true to yourself, because at the end of the day, you’re with yourself. So, if you get lucky and your film ages [well] with the audience and the culture, it’s a beautiful thing, and I’ll be lucky if that happens.”

Related: Two MCU Sequels Reportedly Added To Official Production Schedule

Is Eternals Getting a Sequel?

There have been rumblings and rumors of Eternals getting a sequel, even with its mixed reviews. The question had to be asked to Zhao about the potential sequel as well, and all she had to say on that subject was a simple “no comment.” By saying nothing, perhaps she’s actually saying a lot, as that could be a sign that Eternals 2 is in the works but not yet ready to be announced.

In any case, a sequel hasn’t been confirmed by Marvel Studios at this time, so there are still no guarantees we’ll be seeing more of those characters in the future of the MCU.