The Marvel franchise is going in a new direction.
In a new interview with Deadline, “Eternals” director Chloé Zhao talked about casting former One Direction singer Harry Styles in a surprise role as Eros, brother of MCU villain Thanos.
“Harry as Eros was very much a package deal for me,” Zhao. “I pitched the idea of Pip the Troll [voiced by Patton Oswald in ‘Eternals’] and Eros to Kevin awhile back and I love the idea of exploring an Eternal who is beyond Titan and who may have influenced Thanos throughout the years the same way Eternals influenced us, earthlings.”
Zhao continued, “And then, it wasn’t like I suggested Eros, and let’s go find actors. I kept tabs on Harry since ‘Dunkirk’, I thought he was very interesting. After meeting him I realized he is that character—the same way I cast the rest of my cast. There’s so much of Eros in him. For me, if he says yes and Kevin says yes then it’s a go. And I’m very happy they both did.”
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Last month, following the world premiere of “Eternals” in Los Angeles, Variety writer Matt Donnelly broke the news Twitter that Harry Styles is featured in the film as Eros, brother of Thanos.
Big reveal from #TheEternals premiere — Harry Styles has joined the MCU as Eros, brother of Thanos.
— Matt Donnelly (@MattDonnelly) October 19, 2021
Marvel had not confirmed the report at the time, but news of Styles joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe spread quickly online.
The former One Direction member was not in attendance at the premiere of the new film, which was directed by Oscar winner Zhao and stars Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Kumail Nanjiani, Richard Madden, and more.
In the comic books, Eros, who doubles as the hero Starfox, is a human-like being, as opposed to his giant, purple, villainous brother Thanos, who served as the MCU’s Big Bad through “Avengers: Endgame”.
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On Twitter, many were excited to learn of Styles’ reported casting in “Eternals”.
i apologize in advance for the person i will become if harry styles really is in the eternals movie
— sara (@thisbemesara) October 19, 2021
y’all what? i can’t do this. when i say i’m obsessed w marvel, i mean i’m OBSESSED. and combine that w harry? im unstable https://t.co/R5hUIZEozk
— ashley🧣is ready for red tv (@railme_louaylor) October 19, 2021
if harry styles was my brother and i looked like this i would’ve murdered half the universe too i don’t blame thanos pic.twitter.com/oM0m2wJ4Em
— julia (@harrysprmanager) October 19, 2021
harry styles in marvel. that's the tweet. pic.twitter.com/vJlVxV0LaK
— comfort for harries (@harriescomfort) October 19, 2021
Others, though, took to Twitter to complain about the film’s biggest reveal being ruined for them.
Make that 2 editors at VARIETY. It's literally the world premiere of a Marvel movie that the public don't get to see for weeks and two motherfuckers decided to break embargo and deliberately post the spoiler of the post credit scene?! We at the 26th MCU flick and you do this shit pic.twitter.com/M2uhD75mQv
— Rendy Jones (@Rendy_Jones) October 19, 2021
Watch this cause a ripple effect for upcoming press screenings of future Marvel movies. We ain't gonna get shit now because of those idiots.
— Rendy Jones (@Rendy_Jones) October 19, 2021
Harries are so sick. STOP POSTING SPOILERS. Some of us are marvelrries and just had eternals completely ruined for us 😭
— ⧗ Nats gf (@nattysbestgirl) October 19, 2021
It's really quite simple: People who use their privileged positions to tweet spoilers about big movies weeks in advance should be banned from future screenings. #Eternals
— Amon Warmann (@AmonWarmann) October 19, 2021
I can’t begin to tell you how privileged and unprofessional it is to tweet a massive spoiler when you were invited to a premiere or early screening. This movie is for fans. And hundreds of people worked on it to make it surprising and special.
I hope Disney uninvites you pic.twitter.com/wKmSWPZufo— Dani Fernandez (@msdanifernandez) October 19, 2021