While the pandemic is still a reality, one thing both Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and now Sony's Venom: Let There Be Carnage have proven is that theater audiences are back.
Marvel Studios' next theatrical film on the docket is Eternals, directed by Chloe Zhao and featuring an all-star ensemble cast comprised of the likes of Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, and Salma Hayek.
To date, Marvel fans have seen two trailers for the November 5 film teasing its stunning visuals, cast, and otherworldly abilities. However, the studio's latest promo may have just teased the existence of another hero that could lead to some fascinating implications for the MCU and beyond.
Did Eternals Confirm Superman's Existence Within the MCU?
Marvel's latest promo for Eternals not only featured several new shots from the upcoming film, but also a moment where Phastos' son may have referenced one of the most popular characters from the DC Universe.
The scene shows Sersi and Ikaris visiting Phastos' home and his family, where Ikaris clearly catches Phastos' son Jack's attention.
Jack points at Ikaris and says, "Dad, I saw him on TV, with the cape shooting laser beams!"
While it's true that Ikaris does shoot laser beams from his eyes, he confirms that it wasn't him, saying, "I don't wear a cape."
Since it wasn't Ikaris that Jack saw, fans are already pointing out that he may have seen Superman on TV as the Man of Steel happens to wear both a cape and shoots laser beams from his eyes:
"LMAO the superman reference in the new eternals promo" - @basicallyrxbin
"Remember when Eternals stans got mad when it was pointed out that the movie was intentionally visually referencing Superman for Ikaris" - @theeSNYDERVERSE
"Eternals' new teaser showed Phastos' family!! His husband and their child!! #Eternals their child is super adorable Also, he thinks that ikaris is superman" - @_rainbow_alien_
MCU & DC Crossover Confirmed?
For a movie about an ensemble of MCU newcomers, Marvel has been incredibly disciplined in their promotion of the film, often recycling the same footage and photos and only telling audiences what they absolutely need to know.
Therefore, the fact that the studio intentionally highlighted this exchange between Jack and Ikaris could mean it's worth paying attention to.
It's possible that, in this golden age of comic book movies, Marvel is making it known that DC films and their characters exist in the pop culture world of the MCU, just like how Peter Parker knows about Star Wars and Aliens.
On the other hand, now that the MCU has unleashed the multiverse, it may be possible that they're teasing the potential for a DC and Marvel crossover. And, while that may sound far-fetched, it's already happened in the comics.
The first instance occurred in 1976 with "Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man" and continued on through the years with other characters from both companies. Also, a DC and Marvel crossover is something that James Gunn has discussed as he has now written and directed both MCU and DC films.
It's also worth noting that DC is also experimenting with the multiverse at the same time as the MCU. Warner Bros.'s upcoming 2022 film The Flash is set to revisit Batmen from past franchises - similar to what Marvel is expecting to do with past Spider-Men in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Now, it is possible that Jack saw Vision, and not Superman, on TV. Vision, after all, wore a cape and was able to shoot beams from the Mind Stone embedded in his forehead.
However, there are a few things working against this theory. First of all, Vision looks nothing like Richard Madden's Ikaris. In fact, Ikaris looks a lot like Clark Kent sans glasses. He also shoots beams from his eyes, not the Mind Stone, just like Superman.
Also, Eternals appears to be set post-Endgame, and Vision was killed by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. A five-year gap between these events, coupled with Jack's young age, makes him seeing Vision on TV a little less likely.
Is this the beginning of a MCU and DC crossover? Or did Jack and Phastos just stream Man of Steel or the Snyder Cut? Time will tell; but in the meantime, both MCU and DC fans have something they can both speculate about.
Eternals will debut in theaters on November 5, 2021.
