Eternals: Angelina Jolie Wants To Direct An MCU Film

The latest film by Marvel Studios, Eternals, is now playing in theaters and has introduced the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a new host of characters, including Thena, played by Angelina Jolie. Thena is one of the most powerful Eternals – a family of heroes who has been around since the earliest days of human civilization, hiding on Earth to protect them from the Evil Deviants. This is Angelina Jolie’s first superhero role and while the actress is open to returning to reprise the role, now that she is a part of the MCU, the idea of a solo film based on Thena isn’t something that she’s going to entertain. While talking to Brazil’s CinePop (via Collider), she revealed that she doesn’t want to separate herself from playing Thena and from the overall Eternals family.

Angelina Jolie Also Won’t Mind Reprising Her Role Of Thena

“I loved being part of the family, so I have no desire to separate from the family,” Jolie said. “But I would be happy to play her again and explore even more deeply the struggles that she has. I think it’s fun thinking of where they’ve been over the years. We’ve got thousands of years worth of material. We can take her anywhere. I think that’s fun and I like the idea that we can pop up somewhere, maybe in other Marvel movies.”

Angelina Jolie’s role as Thena was initially very limiter as Eternals producer Nate Moore earlier revealed that Jolie’s Thena was initially set to have a cameo in the film, but as the film went along, the role got much bigger.

Angelina Jolie wants to direct an MCU film

“When we first talked to her, I think she thought, well, I know she thought we wanted her for a very, very small cameo,” Eternals producer Nate Moore said during a press set visit last January. “So she was sort of surprised at the size of the role, and really threw herself into Thena and creating a movement style for Thena and a fighting style for Thena that was unique.”

However, there is one thing that Jolie would be open to – directing an MCU film. While appearing at the red carpet premiere of Eternals, Jolie was asked if she would like to direct a Marvel film and she didn’t miss the notion.

“Maybe I’ll talk to Kevin [Feige] tonight, see if there’s a job for me,” Jolie told Variety.

In addition to Angelina Jolie, Eternals stars Gemma Chan as Sersi, Richard Madden as Ikaris, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, Lia McHugh as Sprite, Lauren Ridloff as Makkari, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos, Barry Keoghan as Druig, Don Lee as Gilgamesh, Salma Hayek as Ajak, and Kit Harington as Dane Whitman. The film is directed by Academy Award-winning director Chloé Zhao.

Eternals is in theaters now.