Marvel boss Kevin Feige has described Gemma Chan’s Sersi as the “emotional center” of the upcoming Marvel film, Eternals, and he was very sure he wanted the actress for the role but there was a bit of a problem that almost prevented her from being cast.
In a new feature for “Entertainment Weekly“, Marvel Studios knew that Chan was right for the part of Sersi but the one nagging issue, according to the top brass at Marvel, was that the actress had already appeared in another MCU film as a completely different character. Chan played the blue-skinned Kree Minn-Erva in 2019’s Captain Marvel but Feige compared Chan’s casting to the internal debates they had over wanting Chris Evans for Captain America after he already had appeared as Human Torch in two Fantastic Four movies. Here is what he had to say:
“I can go back to Chris Evans being on the list for Captain America, and some people said, ‘Oh, well, he played the Human Torch [in 2005’s Fantastic Four]. Maybe we shouldn’t consider him.’ And we said, ‘No, that’s okay’, and the rest is history.”
Chan looked back at what it was like running into Feige “on the awards circuit” after she had done Captain Marvel and was promoting her 2018 film, Crazy Rich Asians. Chan said, “He very kindly came up to me and said, ‘I loved your work, and we really love to work with you again.’ I just thought, ‘Oh, well, that might mean some time in the future, who knows when? Maybe he’s just being nice.’ I was really not expecting to be back so soon!”
Even though Chan was in Captain Marvel, it wasn’t a lead role and she was obscured behind blue makeup so I doubt most would know that she’s the same actress appearing as Sersi in Eternals. Most of us who follow this stuff definitely know but the role was minor enough that she could easily be included in Eternals without us thinking about her character in Captain Marvel. Chan certainly loved playing Sersi and describes her as someone who “isn’t the most obviously impressive” member of the Eternals and she went on to say, “she isn’t the best fighter, nor is she the most powerful, but her real power is empathy.”
As per the official synopsis, “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.”
What are YOUR thoughts on Gemma Chan’s casting in Eternals despite her previous MCU role? Eternals hits screens on November 5, 2021.