Where Were The Eternals During Infinity War?
Contains spoilers for Marvel Studios' "Eternals." Reader beware!
"Eternals" hit the big screen on November 5, 2021, and regardless of how fans or critics feel about it, it's a film that forces us to reconsider everything we thought we knew about the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For thousands of years, a group of immortal beings gifted with incredible abilities have walked among the people of Earth, helping them advance in ways big and small. After spending some time apart, they've reunited in the modern-day to save the planet and people that they've nurtured from a threat that even the Avengers couldn't stop.
For ages, the Eternals have done battle with ruthless predators known as the Deviants to prevent them from wiping out mankind. Though they were caught off-guard by their sudden return after believing they'd gone extinct, they were only the start of the Eternals' problems. They learn that they only exist to prepare planets for an event called an Emergence, during which a cosmic entity known as a Celestial is born out of the planet's core. Horrified at this revelation, several in the group work together to end the Emergence before it can begin, much to the behest of their master, Arishem (David Kaye).
It's very noble for Sersi (Gemma Chan), Makkari (Lauren Ridloff), Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry), and more to want to stick up for humanity after being deceived of their true purpose for millennia. Although, their sudden action brings a huge question to the forefront: where were they during the universally cataclysmic events of "Avengers: Infinity War"?
The Eternals were scattered across Earth
Despite playing a key role in the development of human civilization, Arishem ordered the Eternals to abide by one cardinal rule: do not interfere in their conflicts unless he tells them to do so. Some of them, namely Druig (Barry Keoghan), objected to this mandate and expressed their disinterest in watching people die for centuries on end, knowing full well they could stop it. However, by and large, the group maintained their fealty to Arishem's demand and did nothing to prevent human atrocities — including Thanos' (Josh Brolin) "Infinity War" snap that wiped out half of all life in the universe.
At the time of this publication, director Chloé Zhao nor anyone from Marvel Studios has revealed if any of the Eternals succumbed to Thanos' grand plan. At the very least, we know where some of them had taken up residence as "Infinity War" unfolded. Ajak (Salma Hayek) settled down in South Dakota with Sprite (Lia McHugh), though the latter eventually joined Sersi in London. Phastos married and lived in Chicago, Illinois for some time, Druig established a settlement in Peru, Thena (Angelina Jolie) and Gilgamesh (Don Lee) sought refuge in Australia, and Makkari remained on the Eternals' ship, the Domo.
The Eternals certainly would have turned the tide in the Avengers' "Infinity War" fight against Thanos, but they stuck by Arishem's directives instead. Had they gotten involved, it stands to reason that the MCU as we know it would look drastically different.