Angelina Jolie and Salma Hayek talk about their reasons for joining the cast of Marvel’s Eternals. Jolie plays Thena and Hayek plays Ajak. These are two of The Celestials’ initial Eternals, created to protect and lead humanity on Earth.
Eternals, created by Jack Kirby in 1976 has been a part of the Marvel universe ever since and is now making its first live-action appearance on the big screen. Jolie and Hayek have become household names, amassing a diverse resumé of projects in their names from a variety of genres, including action, drama, comedy, sci-fi, and so on.
Jolie in Hollywood for decades now. She has done some amazing movies like Girl, Interrupted, Mr. & Mrs.Smith, Wanted, etc. Hayek arrived on the scene with Robert Rodriguez’s Desperado and From Dusk Till Dawn. For the first time, the actresses are stepping into the superhero genre.
It is really this family I want to be a part of
Talking to ScreenRant for the Eternals junket, both the actresses spoke about how they came to join the Eternals family. Angelina says she has been approached for superhero roles in the past. It wasn’t until Thena was offered that she really considered it, saying that the part made her want to be a part of a broader picture. She says, “And Thena… It is really this family I want to be a part of. When I understood what this film was going to be and who this group was, what this group would represent and how inclusive and diverse [it was]. I felt that’s what it always should have been. It’s what I wanted to be, and to figure out my part in it was secondary; figuring out who I’d be. But I just wanted to be with this family. And I trust this director.”
Salma has never been approached with superhero roles before. She says, her character of Ajak felt like “the right one” and “at the right time.” Hayek praises her director Chloé Zhao and highlights the “eclectic” family. She adds, “I love the director. I think it’s very meaningful. It is at this time, I can be in my 50s and be a superhero. and be Mexican-Arab and be a superhero, and be part of this eclectic family.” “Because my greatest expectations about Angie, about the director, about our little family that we created, about the movie itself – it’s one of those rare occasions where you keep being surprised in a good way, and it keeps growing.”
Both Jolie and Hayek have shown themselves in every other genre they’ve worked in. Marvel superheroes will undoubtedly be no exception. They will add a wealth of expertise and familiarity to Eternals. It will elevate it to a level of respect. The that is not normally accorded when the stars are unproven. It’s wonderful to see Jolie and Hayek bringing their knowledge and expertise to the MCU rather than striving to prove their strengths to be in it. Without a doubt, Jolie and Hayek will do the same with Eternals.