The newest heroes to come out of the MCU, Eternals centers around a team of galactic immortals that come to earth to protect it and though they’ve been living among humans in secret for thousands of years, they have tried to never interfere until now. Eternals was released on November 5th, 2021 and it featured a grand ensemble cast including Richard Madden, Gemma Chan, Angelina Jolie, Barry Keoghan, Don Lee, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Lauren Ridolff, Brain Tyree Henry, and Salma Hayek.
When it came to casting for this movie, director Chole Zhao had a clear vision for some roles so much so that some cast members didn’t even have to audition for their roles, like Lauren Ridolf who played Makkari. Don Lee was not only offered the role of Gilgamesh, but the character was crafted around him. Similarly, Zhao envisioned Eros (our end credit surprise) as Harry Styles so much that no one else was even considered as a possibility. But not every role was this easy when it came to their on screen portrayals, so here are some people who were rumored to be considered for a place on the Eternals team.
8 Ana De Armas
Before Salma Hayek was cast as healer and guide Ajak, Ana De Armas was rumored to be in the running for the role. Strong and stoic, Armas could have played the role with her experience from films like Knives Out, War Dogs, Blade Runner 2049, and a Bond girl in No Time To Die. She is also set to portray Marilyn Monroe in the upcoming biopic Blonde. If Salma Hayek's initial refusal of the role was not re-considered, we could have also seen fellow hispanic actress Eiza González in the role.
7 Gina Rodriguez
Another Latina leader in the making, Gina Rodriguez could have been our Ajak. Most fans know her for her titular role in the telenovela inspired Jane The Virgin which ran for five seasons. She has also appeared in Brooklyn Nine Nine, Diary of a Future President, Miss Bala, Someone Great, and thriller film Awake. She has even had her hand in voice acting with roles like Velma in Scoob!, Gina in Elena of Avalor, and titular character in Netflix’s Carmen Sandiego.
6 Rami Malek
Before Barry Keoghan was cast as the morally questionable Druig, fans could have seen Academy Award winner Rami Malek in the role. Best known for his role as Freddie Mercury in the biopic Bohemian Rhapsody and as the titular character in the Emmy winning Mr. Robot. Malek would go on to appear in The Pacific, The Little Things, the villain in James Bond film No Time To Die, and even in the comedic Night of the Museum trilogy. Another popular actor briefly considered for his role was Keanu Reeves.
5 Luke Evans
The second almost-Druig on the list, Luke Evans was considered for the role for a more comic book accurate casting choice since comic book Druig is depicted as much older looking than Barry Keoghan is. Luke Evans has played an immortal being before, as he portrayed Zeus in the action film Immortals. He has also appeared in Fast & The Furious 6, Dracula Untold, The Pembrokeshire Murders, and the live action remake of Beauty and The Beast. Another more comic book-accurate casting choice that was brought up was English Actor Ian McShane.
4 Charlie Hunnam
Before Richard Madden was cast as Ikaris, Charlie Hunnam was rumored to be in the running for the brooding leading man. Hunnam has shown his vast range of acting abilities with appearances in Green Street, box office hit Pacific Rim, The Lost City of Z , King Arthur: Legend of the Sword and The Gentleman. And while he didn’t grace the big screen in MCU’s Eternals, he is set to appear in the upcoming British thriller Last Looks. He is best known for his role as the charming Jax in Sons of Anarchy. Another celeb known for his variety when it comes to acting credits, Armie Hammer was also considered for the role before losing out.
3 Alexander Skarsgård
Another Ikaris candidate, Alexander Skarsgård was briefly considered for the role and could have captured the Eternal’s duality well. Skarsgard is no stranger to playing flawed men, having portrayed Nathan Lind in Godzilla vs. Kong, his starring role in Big Little Lies and Randall Flagg in The Stand. He has also appeared as the titular character in The Legend of Tarzan, True Blood as Eric Northman, Generations Kill, Long Shot, Passing, and Succession. Fellow actor television hearthrob Sam Heughan was also considered for the role. Skarsgård's brother Bill was cast as a secondary antagonist in Eternals.
2 Marie Avgeropoulos
Before Gemma Chan was cast as Sersi, fans could have gotten actress Marie Avgeropoulos, who is known for her lead role as the independent, rebellious, and at times cruel Octavia Blake in CW’s The 100. Despite her vicious rule, she quickly became a fan favorite and played the role for 100 episodes. She has also appeared in Wonder Woman: Bloodlines, Dead Rising: Endgame, Supernatural, The Inbetweeners, and Cult.
1 Tatiana Maslany
Another potential Sersi, Tatiana Maslany was considered for the role before ultimately losing out to Gemma Chan. But just because she lost her chance as an immortal being, doesn’t mean she’s out for the count when it comes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Maslany is set to portray titular character Jennifer Walters in the upcoming Disney+ series She-Hulk which will be released in 2022. Fans are excited to see her take on the fierce fighter after seeing her appearances in Picture Day, Perry Mason, Cas and Dylan, and her five year run on Orphan Black (where she played over seven different characters).