Eternals is set to introduce a new group of heroes into the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe, and one of them is Kit Harington's Dane Whitman.
After portraying Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, Harington plays another sword-wielding hero in the MCU, with Whitman on the path to become the franchise's Black Knight.
In the pages of Marvel Comics, Dane Whitman wields a mystical sword called the Ebony Blade to become the famed hero. The character's transition to the Marvel hero is due to his ancestor, Sir Percy of Scandia. Whitman has been a member of many teams in the comics, including the likes of the Avengers and the Defenders.
Marketing for Eternals revealed that Harington's MCU character is closely linked to Gemma Chan's Sersi as it was already confirmed that the pair will have a romantic connection similar to the comics.
Outside of the budding romance, details about Harington's role in Eternals are still being kept under wraps, but one running theory states that Whitman could become Black Knight in the film.
Now, a new interview may have shed some light on the character's role in the movie as well as his future.
Kit Harington's MCU Future Teased
During an Eternals set visit in January 2020, Screen Rant was able to nab a quote from Marvel Studios producer Nate Moore about Kit Harington's Dane Whitman role in Eternals.
Moore confirmed that Whitman "ultimately goes on" to become Black Knight in the MCU's future, but the producer pointed out that Harington's MCU character "won't be the Black Knight" in Eternals.
The Marvel Studios executive also teased Harington's role in the film, pointing out that the relationship between Whitman and Gemma Chan's Sersi is pivotal while also confirming that the Ebony Blade will not be in the movie:
"We think he's interesting and a great character and actually Kit Harington, who just wrapped yesterday, was fantastic, but we very much explore the relationship between Dane Whitman and Sersi, which is again something for comic readers ... you won't see the Ebony Blade in this movie. He's not going to be a Black Knight necessarily, but that is something that we get to play with down the road."
Dane Whitman and His Black Knight Future
Based on Nate Moore's comments, it seems that Eternals would likely serve as the heroic launchpad for Kit Harington's Dane Whitman. Many would agree that this could be the perfect approach for such an integral character like Whitman since it allows the MCU to fully explore the hero before eventually transitioning into a larger role.
The Game of Thrones star teased in a previous interview that Whitman represents "the human character of the story," possibly hinting that fans could see the film's present-day storyline through his perspective. This would allow the character to be more familiar with the Eternals' history, thus opening up the possibility of him stepping up to become a hero on his own.
Eternals director Chloe Zhao already confirmed that the film will have two post-credits scenes, and a running theory suggests that one of them could explore Whitman finding the Ebony Blade from his ancestors. Marvel Studios has a history of meaningful post-credits scenes that dictate the franchise's future, and a Black Knight-centric one definitely fits that category.
Looking ahead, turning into Black Knight means that Whitman is immune to magic, an ability that would be helpful when going up against magical foes like the Scarlet Witch and even a rogue Doctor Strange. Aside from his sword-wielding alter ego, Whitman is also a gifted scientist, meaning that he could be valuable when it comes to forming strategies that require a scientific solution.
It's reasonable to assume that Whitman is poised to become a vital member of Earth's Mightiest Heroes down the line alongside Gemma Chan's Sersi, and it will be interesting to see how Eternals will shape the character into his heroic self when it's all said and done.
Eternals is set to premiere in theaters on November 5, 2021.
