Marvel's latest offering Eternals is a crowning achievement for the Marvel Cinematic Universe as it features the franchise's first openly gay superhero. Not only that but the Chloé Zhao-directed epic is also set to include a steamy and intimate scene between two of the main characters — Ikaris and Sersi, something that hasn't been done in the 13 years that the franchise has existed.
These drastic tonal changes obviously come as a surprise given the fact that Disney has always played by their own "family-friendly" rulebook. It also led to countless negative reviews from fans who have already seen the film, resulting in Eternals being named as the first MCU film to receive a "Rotten" rating in Rotten Tomatoes.
On the subject of the MCU's first-ever sex scene, actor Richard Madden has opened up about the significance of it. Speaking with GamesRadar+, the newest addition to the Marvel family said: "I think there was something nice about having an intimate scene where you see these characters who do make love… showing an intimacy in their relationship over the years. Much like the diversity in the film, I feel like that intimate moment is also something that should be normalized."
Also Read: Eternals Director Explains Why She Insisted on Including Film’s Sex Scene
Despite all the negativity Eternals has been getting, I still believe most fans are ready to embrace a more mature MCU, and quite frankly, it's about time Marvel Studios took things to the next level. The old formula is already getting stale and if anything, an edgier and more mature presentation will help the franchise be taken more seriously, especially by the skeptics who think they're just all rainbows and butterflies.
Marvel Studios' Eternals is scheduled for a theater-exclusive release on November 5, 2021.
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