Eternals Director Explains Why Kingo Doesn't Return - Screen Rant

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Menu Follow Followed Like More Action Sign in now Screen Awards Christmas Advent Calendar Exclusives Best on Streaming SR Database Network TV Schedule Close By Rachel Labonte Published Jan 3, 2022 Rachel LaBonte is one of Screen Rant's New Movies editors and critics. A graduate of Emerson College, she majored in Media Arts Production while specializing in screenwriting. She's been a writer since high school. Most notably, she wrote for Emerson's website Emertainment Monthly, and one of her film reviews won an Evvy (Emerson's student awards) for Best Review.  Sign in to your ScreenRant account Add Us On follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Eternals director Chloé Zhao explains why Kumail Nanjiani's Kingo didn't return for the final battle. Marvel Studios churned out a lot of content this year, including its first millennia-spanning epic. Eternals rolled out in theaters in early November and introduced audiences to the titular cosmic group. Each blessed with incredible powers, the Eternals were sent to Earth thousands of years ago to protect humanity from the evil Deviants. In the present day, the reemergence of the Deviants brings about some shocking revelations, leading each Eternal to reevaluate their beliefs.

Eternals' final battle pits team member against team member as one faction led by Sersi (Gemma Chan) works to prevent the destruction of Earth while another comprised of Ikaris (Richard Madden) and Sprite (Lia McHugh) commits to their initial mission. All living members of the Eternals are present for the battle, save for vain Bollywood star Kingo. Despite largely siding with Ikaris in his beliefs, Kingo doesn't wish to battle his family and disappears from Eternals' third act. He later pops up after the fight and is one of the characters involved in the cliffhanger ending.

Related: Eternals' Cliffhanger Ending Explained

Zhao recently sat down with Empire for a spoiler-heavy interview and gave her perspective on why Kingo sat out the final battle. After explaining that Kingo has "confirmed the beliefs, but he refused to hurt people for it," Zhao delved into one of her main goals for Eternals: To approach the superhero genre with a revisionist lens. She said:

We talked a lot about – what does it mean to be heroic? I feel we're entering a revisionist period for this genre. I feel the desire from the studios and from the audience. There's something about celebrating feminine strength, both in men and women in this film, that was very important for us. I think Sersi [Chan] is the bravest of all, because no matter how much someone wronged her, she's able to forgive them, to show them love instead of punch them in the face. She stays open and vulnerable, and that actually brought down the strongest, most powerful being.

Previously, Eternals producer Nate Moore explained Kingo stayed out of the battle because it wouldn't have felt true to the character and his beliefs, which falls in line with Zhao's own thoughts. Kingo is someone who appreciates his family and would never harm them, but he hasn't been swayed by humanity enough to defy his orders and save it. His capacity for heroism isn't that large. Plus, as Eternals showed a few times, Kingo is heavily influenced by Ikaris and likely couldn't stand to defy him.

Audiences were a bit mystified by the decision to leave Kingo out of the final battle, but it's clear there was real thought put into it. With 10 characters to explore, there has to be varying levels of heroism in each one in order to make each personality distinct. That means that while some will stand up and fight, like Sersi, others will take a step back, like Kingo. Future Eternals installments can explore this on a deeper level, but Zhao and Marvel have made their position on Kingo's actions in the first film clear. Perhaps he'll grow in the sequel.

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More: Marvel Phase 4 Could Restart The MCU's Civil War (Because Of Eternals)

Source: Empire

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