When Eternals launched in 2021, it became the first Marvel Studios film to receive Rotten ratings on Rotten Tomatoes. Released during the last months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the film struggled commercially, earning only $402 million globally. Despite facing criticism for its excessive plot points and the poorly received villain Kro, the movie introduced a fresh perspective to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and laid the groundwork for future storylines.
However, four years after its release, Marvel Studios has yet to reveal plans to continue the story, particularly clarifying the fate of the Eternals taken by Arishem after preventing Tiamut’s arrival on Earth. This unresolved cliffhanger has left fans uncertain about the team’s future in the MCU, although recent rumors hint at intriguing developments ahead.
Kumail Nanjiani’s Personal Experience with the MCU and Eternals’ Reception
Kumail Nanjiani, known for his role as Kingo in Eternals and his work on Only Murders in the Building, spoke openly about the emotional impact the movie’s disappointing reaction had on him. Anticipating a positive breakthrough in his career, Nanjiani shared how the harsh criticism and poor box office results affected him deeply.
“It came out right after COVID, so I had a year and a half at home to be just like, ‘When this thing comes out…'”
—Kumail Nanjiani, Actor
“It came out, it got really bad reviews, and it didn’t do that well. It shattered me too much. That was when I was like, ‘Oh, I need to go to therapy to figure this out.'”
—Kumail Nanjiani, Actor
The Extent of Nanjiani’s MCU Commitment Initially Planned
When Nanjiani first joined the Marvel franchise, he expected it to be his primary work for the coming decade. He revealed that he had signed contracts for a significant number of MCU-related projects, including six films, a video game, and even a theme park ride. The deal was intended to make Marvel movies a steady part of his career, giving him space to pursue other projects between.
“I was like, ‘This is going to be my job for the next ten years.’ I signed on for six movies. I signed on for a video game. I signed on for a theme park ride. They make you sign on for all this stuff. You’re like, ‘Okay, so I’ll be doing Marvel movies every year, and in between, I’ll do my own little things. Whatever I want to do.'”
—Kumail Nanjiani, Actor
However, none of those plans came to fruition as anticipated. Nanjiani reflected on how much his self-worth was tied to public reception and acknowledged the need to adjust his perspective on criticism.
“For me, what really hit me was realising that too much of my self-esteem is wrapped up in other people’s reactions to my work. People have way bigger problems than this.”
—Kumail Nanjiani, Actor
Looking Back on Eternals and the MCU Future for Kingo
Despite the mixed reviews and commercial challenges, Nanjiani expressed pride in his work on Eternals and the film itself. He acknowledged that the movie featured a large ensemble cast, which some critics cited as a weakness, but he remains fond of the project.
“There were a few too many people in Eternals if the reviews are to be believed. I loved the movie. I’m very proud of it.”
—Kumail Nanjiani, Actor
At the time of its release, Eternals was expected to become a major franchise for Marvel Studios, with comparisons to the scale of the X-Men series and speculation about Oscar consideration generating significant attention. Since then, Nanjiani reprised Kingo in a notable episode of the animated series What If…?, alongside Kathryn Hahn. However, there have been no updates about live-action appearances for Kingo. Meanwhile, rumors circulate about Nanjiani potentially joining the DC Universe as Booster Gold, signaling a possible shift in his superhero career.
