Eternals 2: Chloé Zhao Can't Comment About Possible Return
Chloé Zhao can't comment about her possible return to direct Eternals 2, which has not been officially announced by Marvel Studios. After winning an Oscar for Best Director and Best Picture with Nomadland, expectations rose for what Zhao's entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe could deliver. Upon Eternals' release in November 2021, the movie was met with mixed reviews, becoming the first MCU movie to have a "Rotten" critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie has become a divisive entry in the shared universe, and even though Eternals' cliffhanger ending leaves the door open for more, the franchise's future remains unclear.
Prior to Eternals' release, the prospect of it getting a sequel was not clear. Chloé Zhao said in interviews that she'd welcome a chance to return to the MCU, but some producers involved with the film said it doesn't specifically need one. This has left some doubt about whether the franchise will return with a proper Eternals sequel or instead get spinoffs and see its characters appear in other MCU properties. The critical response didn't stop Eternals' box office from earning $400 million worldwide (without China), which was a decent haul during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a new interview with Empire, Chloé Zhao refused to comment on the possibility of returning to direct Eternals 2. Her simple response to the outlet's initial inquiry about a potential MCU return was "no comment." This could be because she and Marvel have not yet come to an agreement about whether or not they will continue working together in the future, whether that be on an Eternals sequel, a spinoff, or another MCU property altogether. In any case, the director did tease her excitement for seeing what comes from the many seeds Eternals plants even if she isn't involved. Zhao said:
"But as a fan, one of the joys is to be able to sit back and see how the seeds you plant can grow. And I’ve planted a lot of seeds with this film."
The chance for Chloé Zhao to direct Eternals 2 will depend on whether or not Marvel Studios wants to continue the franchise. The movie certainly seemed to set up a bigger sequel, as Arishem the Celestial took Sersi and a few other Eternals from Earth to be judged. Eternals post-credits scene even teased the continuation of this storyline with Harry Styles' Starfox and other Eternals teaming up to go save them. Exploring what happens next for the Eternals is best kept for Eternals 2, which could be a more cosmic adventure like the one some audiences expected the first film to be.
If Marvel Studios does make Eternals 2, it will certainly be fascinating to see if Chloé Zhao returns. Marvel has a fairly good track record of retaining directors for sequels recently, as James Gunn, Jon Watts, Daniel Destin Cretton, Ryan Coogler, and Peyton Reed either have returned or will return to direct at least one sequel. Chloé Zhao might want a chance to return for Eternals 2 to continue her story and get a chance to deliver a more well-received MCU movie. Then again, she could also want to move on after Eternals' divisive response and tackle new challenges. There's no telling what the future holds for her or even if Eternals 2 will happen, though.
Source: Empire