Marvel Studios Stopped Eternals Star From Getting Too Muscular

By Russ Milheim Posted:
Marvel, Eternals, MCU

Eternals is the next film in line for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it looks like it's going to be one for the ages. The project is already set to be the second-longest MCU film to date and is teased to redefine everything audiences know about the world they've been following for over a decade.

That's quite an intense promise, but one which Chloé Zhao will no doubt succeed in pulling off. If the trailers are any indication, the film is going to be unlike anything fans have seen to date.

Part of what makes the movie unique is the fact that the Eternals as a group are the most diverse superhero team to feature in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to date—maybe in all genres.

The cast has spoken out about how excited they were to be a part of such a monumental film many times. In fact, one may have even gotten too stoked.

Kingo Gets Too Muscular for Marvel

In late 2019, Kumail Nanjiani caused a storm on social media after posting photos of his now-ripped body. The actor, who was 42 years old at the time, went to extreme lengths to lose fat and gain muscle for his superheroic role as Kingo in Eternals. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn)

In a conversation with Screen Rant during a 2020 visit to Eternals set, the topic of Kumail Nanjiani's intense physique came up. 

In fact, Marvel Studios producer Nate Moore even admitted that "at one point [he] had to call him," and "pull Kumail back" from getting too ripped for the movie:

"I will say this because this is the truth; we were like, 'Hey Kumail, don't worry about it. You don't have to get in a ton, like, this isn't the movie where we have to work out a ton.' But he wanted to do it and it got to some point [where] I had to call him. I said, 'Kumail, I think you got too big,' because we saw him, I think on Kimmel or something. He's a movie star. He's not a bodybuilder and we had to pull Kumail back... He was so excited to be in the movie, he was just invested. But yeah, he got big. I've been in the gym with him, it is very intimidating."

kumail-nanjiani-eternals
Marvel

 

Marvel Studios Stopping the Muscular Eternal

It's funny this became a topic of conversation because it was certainly noticed when the actor started making public appearances, and he looked incredibly jacked. So much so, that you wouldn't even question the idea of him smacking Thor into the ground.

What Moore notes is a good point, however, as the dedication required to look like that is no joke. Nanjiani is clearly excited about joining the MCU, and he wants to make that known. His passion is infectious.

Fans only have a few weeks left to go until they can watch Eternals in theaters worldwide, where they'll see Kingo in all his glory. With the passion the actor has already shown, hopefully, Nanjiani has a long future ahead of him in the MCU.

- About The Author: Russ Milheim
Russ Milheim is the Industry Relations Coordinator at The Direct. On top of utilizing his expertise on the many corners of today’s entertainment to cover the latest news and theories, he establishes and maintains communication and relations between the outlet and the many studio and talent representatives.