Marvel’s Eternals once had a very different ending says Chloé Zhao

Marvel’s Eternals didn’t exactly have a happy ending, but it was almost a whole lot bleaker, according to director Chloé Zhao. Empire magazine interviewed the MCU director to discuss the original ending of the film and the reasons they changed it to make it more optimistic.

[Ed. note: This post contains for Eternals’ including the post-credits scene.]

It was a theatrical end. Eternal involves many of the Eternals — the ones who survive anyway — being teleported away from Earth, now that their mission is more or less over. They still have the memories and experience they had on Earth. But according to Zhao, she originally had a much more “bleak” ending in mind.

“It used to end with everybody back on the ship, minds erased and just going on to another planet, like Twilight Zone,” she explained to Empire. For her part, Zhao said she didn’t mind that darker ending. “I didn’t hate it, because I’m used to films that are more melancholy. But I don’t think it went down well with audiences. […] I remember when it goes to black, everyone was like, ‘I don’t know what to do.’”

Of course, this is an MCU movie we’re talking about, so ending things on a melancholy, cyclical note, as if nothing that just happened had any real cosmic significance and would all happen again, was never really going to fly. “It’s the MCU, and you want to be excited for what’s next,” said Zhao.

This ending also would have meant a slight alteration for the movie’s post-credits stinger as well. The original version of Harry Styles’s Eros introduction was a little more subtle. Instead of Harry Styles appearing on board the new vessel as an extra member, this pop singer appeared to do so. Eternal crew. Based on the fan reactions, Styles’ own reveal seemed to have been a worthwhile one.

Zhao leaves Empire with an Empire interview in traditional MCU style, and even includes a teaser. After answering a question about the movie’s other post-credits scene — which features Kit Harrington opening a sword and the voice of Mahershala Ali’s Blade — Zhao mentions that, “in the little time I spent with Mahershala, I can’t wait for the Blade Coming soon. It’s gonna be epic.”