Marvel's Eternals premieres in theaters on November 5 and will introduce fans to an all-new superhero team. The film follows an immortal group sent to Earth to protect humanity. Led by Oscar-winning writer and director Chloé Zhao, Eternals features an all-star cast including Angelina Jolie as the warrior Thena and Salma Hayek as the team leader Ajak.
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Screen Rant spoke to Jolie and Hayek about taking on the superhero film, what drew them to Eternals, and what MCU heroes they'd like to team up with.
Screen Rant: From the moment you two took the stage in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, it just felt so perfect. We're so honored as fans to have you both in the Marvel Universe. It made me wonder how many times you've been approached for superhero roles in the past, and why Thena and Ajak were the right fit.
Angelina Jolie : Not many times, but I've been approached. And Thena… It was really this family I wanted to be a part of. When I understood what this film was going to be and who this group was, what this group would represent, and how inclusive and diverse [t was], I felt that's what it always should have been.
It's what I wanted to be, and to figure out my part in it was secondary; figuring out who I'd be. But I just wanted to be with this family. And I trust this director.
As someone who worshiped you as Lara Croft, I got to see you fighting again and was like, "Yes!"
Angelina Jolie : Thank you very much. It's good to fight again.
Salma Hayek : For me, I've never been approached before for a superhero. But it doesn't matter, because I think that this is the right one. This is the appropriate one at the right time. It's a lot more exciting to have this little surprise that keeps giving me surprises. I love the director. I think it's very meaningful that it's at this time, that I can be in my 50s and be a superhero, and be Mexican-Arab and be a superhero, and be part of this eclectic family.
But the next surprise was…they only had Angelina when I came on board, and I was super excited. But there's been more surprises. Because my greatest expectations about Angie, about the director, about our little family that we created, about the movie itself – it's one of those rare occasions where you keep being surprised in a good way, and it keeps growing.
And there were some bad surprises. For example, we couldn't come out when we wanted to, because the world practically fell apart with a virus. Everything has been eventful about this movie, though. There is nothing that is just normal. It's just all kind of amazing.
I'm so excited to see how everything will intertwine in the future as Phase 4 comes together. I'm curious if you've given any thought to an existing Avenger or Marvel character that you would love for Thena to fight or team up with, or Ajak to me in the future.
Angelina Jolie : There have been some secret conversations. We're all having little secret conversations, and we're all trying to figure out if Kevin [Feige] already knows.
Salma Hayek : Well, I think she can really take down Thor. We've had this conversation.
Angelina Jolie: Easy. Challenge to Chris [Hemsworth].
Salma Hayek : I'd love to have some philosophical conversations with Deadpool.
Angelina Jolie : I think that'd be hilarious.
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