Why Eros In The MCU Is More Important Than You Think
Contains spoilers for "Eternals"
Marvel's "Eternals" always looked like it would be a different beast from what audiences have gotten out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe thus far. The film takes a globetrotting approach to the next level, showing how an immortal race of beings has interacted with Earth pretty much since the dawn of humanity. "Eternals" provides new context for all of the alien races seen throughout the franchise, but there's one intriguing tidbit that has fans salivating to learn more.
In a post-credits scene, it's revealed that Thanos's (Josh Brolin) brother, Eros (Harry Styles), will join the future of the MCU in some capacity. Thanos met his demise — twice — in "Avengers: Endgame," but as comic book fans know all too well, death doesn't necessarily mean the end for a character. Regardless of what happens with Thanos, it's clear his family and lineage will continue playing a role in Phase 4 and beyond. But Eros brings some interesting backstory with him, and there are several ways he could influence the MCU moving forward.
Eros is far nicer than his villainous brother
Eros, who also goes by the name of Starfox, has been in Marvel Comics since the 1970s. While Thanos is obsessed with death and, in the case of the MCU, bringing balance to the universe, Eros has far more amorous ambitions. He's a bit of a womanizer, and in addition to all of the usual superhero powers (enhanced strength, flight, psionic blasts), he also has the ability to control others' emotions (via CBR). He can activate the pleasure centers in people's brains who are within 25 feet of him, making them susceptible to his whims.
It would make the most sense for Eros to play a role in "Eternals 2," but he has some connections to other Marvel characters that could hint at what direction they'll take with him. In the comics, he's worked as part of the Avengers to take down his brother, so he could play an integral role in the new makeup of that team. Eros is also responsible for creating the group known as the Dark Guardians. Much attention has gone toward the Young Avengers and Thunderbolts seemingly forming in the MCU, but perhaps Kevin Feige wants to lay the groundwork for a new team to enter the picture down the line.
There's also a possibility that Eros could appear in the "She-Hulk" series coming to Disney+. There's an infamous comic book arc from 2005 where Eros goes on trial for manipulating a woman's thoughts to be with him, and he hires She-Hulk to be his attorney (via Cheat Sheet). Then again, Eros could play a role in any number of the more cosmic MCU projects in the works, like "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" and "The Marvels." Only time will tell, but with Harry Styles in the role, it's clear Eros could be a significant player in the future of this franchise.