Even with a franchise as vast as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, we don't often see the same actor playing multiple roles, but one notable exception to that rule is Gemma Chan, who will be leading the ensemble cast of Eternals just two years after appearing in Captain Marvel. Although Chan was covered in blue makeup in Captain Marvel, she was still very much identifiable, which led her to believe that she wouldn't be able to return.
However, thanks to her role in Crazy Rich Asians, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige wanted her to return for a different role in Eternals, which she discussed while speaking with Empire.
I feel very lucky to have been welcomed back into the MCU so quickly after my first appearance; the reception has been very warm. I feel fortunate because we had a lot of crossover in the crew between the two films so there was continuity in that sense, but these are completely different projects, in completely different times, the characters are different.
Gemma Chan will play Sersi in Eternals, a powerful alien who loves humanity and may be involved in a love triangle with Ikaris (Richard Madden) and Dane Whitman (Kit Harington). We received our first teaser trailer for Eternals last month, and it looks like director Chloe Zhao has brought a stylistic change to the MCU "We shot it like it was an indie film, almost completely on location using natural light, pretty much all at magic hour," Chan said. "It’s such an epic, ambitious film, with [Zhao] bringing her signature style and sensibility."
The official synopsis for Eternals:
Marvel Studios’ “Eternals” welcomes an exciting new team of Super Heroes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The epic story, spanning thousands of years, features a group of immortal heroes forced out of the shadows to reunite against mankind’s oldest enemy, The Deviants. The outstanding ensemble cast includes Richard Madden as the all-powerful Ikaris, Gemma Chan as humankind-loving Sersi, Kumail Nanjiani as cosmic-powered Kingo, Lauren Ridloff as the super-fast Makkari, Brian Tyree Henry as the intelligent inventor Phastos, Salma Hayek as the wise and spiritual leader Ajak, Lia McHugh as the eternally young, old-soul Sprite, Don Lee as the powerful Gilgamesh, Barry Keoghan as aloof loner Druig, and Angelina Jolie as the fierce warrior Thena. Kit Harington plays Dane Whitman.
Eternals is set to hit theaters on November 5, 2021.