The Marvel Cinematic Universe may have scored another A-lister.
According The Hollywood Reporter, Academy Award-winner Angelina Jolie is in talks to star in The Eternals—a project that is said to kick off Phase 4 of the MCU. The film, which Chloe Zhao will direct, is based on Jack Kirby's 1976 comic book series about the titular species of near immortal beings and their monstrous rivals known as The Deviants. Though the details about The Eternals flick have been kept to a minimum, THR reports the movie will include a "love story between Ikaris, a man fueled by cosmic energy, and Sersi, who relishes moving amongst humans."
It's unclear what role Jolie will possibly take, though many suspect she's in talks to play Sersi, one of the most powerful Eternals who eventually joined the Avengers.
"We are going to cast the best Eternals cast that we can," Victoria Alonso, the production chief of Marvel, told Variety this month, "and when we're ready to announce it, we promise you we will."
There have also been reports that The Eternals will be lead by a gay superhero—a first for MCU.
"Our entire success is based on people that are incredibly different. Why wouldn’t we? Why would we only want to be recognized by only one type of person?" Alonso said, when asked about the possibility of a LGBT Marvel character. "Our audience is global, is diverse, is inclusive. If we don't do it that way for them, we will fail. If we don't put pedal to the metal on the diversity and the inclusivity, we will not have continued success. Our determination is to have that for all of the people out there watching our movies."
We'll be sure to keep you updated as more information about The Eternals rolls in.
Jolie is now working with Disney on Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, which is slated to hit theaters spring 2020. The actress has also signed on to produce and star in the animation/live-action The One and Only Ivan.
