Many were curious and concerned about the Eternals apparently changing the backstory of the titular heroic group, as the first plot synopsis for the film referred to them as aliens, which they aren't in the comics. However, over time, this tidbit of information fell by the wayside. Instead, the focus went to leaked merchandise for the costumes and villain.
Accompanying a new featurette for Eternals, interviews from set visits were also published, revealing a slew of new information about the film and its characters. Well, it seems like the Eternals will indeed have their backstory changed for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including the one for the Deviants too.
Eternals Are From "Planet" Called Olympia
Producer Nate Moore has affirmed in a recent interview that the backstory for the Eternals has been changed, now being "immortal aliens from a planet called Olympia" instead of an evolutionary offshoot of humanity:
"In the past, we see the Eternals, who in our version of the mythology, are immortal aliens from a planet called Olympia."
The Eternals had apparently been tasked by the Celestials to come to Earth to eliminate the Deviants, which are "parasitic aliens" who ravage worlds and "kill the apex predators" on every planet they invade:
"The Deviants are these parasitic aliens who go from planet to planet, and as they kill the apex predators on a given planet, they sort of take the characteristics of those predators and wipe out intelligent life. Well, the Eternals are heroes, so they've come to earth to eradicate the Deviants and allow humanity to thrive."
Drastically Different Backstory or Plot Twist?
It seems abundantly clear now that the backstory of the Eternals has been drastically changed from the comics, along with the Deviants. In the comics, the Celestials arrived millions ago on Earth and encountered Homo erectus.
Seeing their genetic potential, the cosmic beings performed experiments on the newly emerging species, which resulted in the creation of both the Deviants and the Eternals on Earth. The former was deemed to be a failure, while the latter a success. When the Celestials left Earth, the Deviants bred out of control, overwhelming the Eternals.
Desperate, they called back the Celestials, who proceeded to systematically wipe the Deviants off the face of the Earth, including the destruction and sinking of the Deviant city that would later be known as Atlantis, home of Namor the Submariner.
However, this does bring up many questions. If this is indeed their backstory and the Eternals are remaining on Earth instead of their home planet of Olympia, could the Eternals have been given false memories or been lied to by the Celestials to mask their true origin and purpose? Both of which have happened numerous times in the comics, specifically their memories being altered.
Fans will find out for sure when they see Eternals in theaters on November 5, 2021.
