This week Russell Crowe announced that he would be playing Zeus in Taika Waititi’s Thor: Love & Thunder this also inadvertently confirmed that Marvel Studios is planning on finally introducing The Olympians to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, their version of the pantheon of Greek gods and demigods.
Like how Marvel tweaked Norse mythology for the comic book version of The Asgardians, the group are cosmic beings that reside in the realm of Olympus (similar to Asgard) and were worshiped by humans.
Their arrival could have an impact on the larger narrative of an upcoming franchise outside of Thor: Love & Thunder.
While we don’t know how The Olympians really feel about The Eternals in the MCU, there was an alliance between Asgard and Olympus against the incoming heroes that will be featured in the upcoming film directed by Oscar nominee Chloe Zhao (Nomadland). A looming conflict between Eternals and Olympians could be perfect fodder for Eternals 2, however, this would depend on if Marvel plans on exploring the tension between the two god-like groups.
I’ll be curious to see what role they play in Thor: Love & Thunder and if they’ll be explained in Eternals.
Interestingly enough, The Olympians made their Marvel debut in Venus issue #1 back in 1948 with the comic focusing on the obscure character of Venus aka Aphrodite Ourania, the goddess of love and beauty. Venus is a founding member of The Agents of Atlas led by Randall Park’s Jimmy Woo and daughter of Russell Crowe’s Zeus, making her the half-sister of both Hercules and Ares.
Shang-Chi & The Legend of The Ten Rings could be the entry point for The Atlas Empire.
John Aaron aka Ares, the god of war, has been a longtime villain in the Marvel Comics universe first debuting in Thor #129 back in 1966 and even joined the ranks of the Dark Avengers, a group that is rumored to coming eventually to the MCU. He’s paired-up with other Marvel villains over the years such as Norman Osborn and Enchantress. Ares also joined the ranks of The Mighty Avengers and had a role in Secret Invasion, which is getting a series on Disney+ that recently added Olivia Colman and Emilia Clarke to the growing cast.
Likely the most notable Olympian is Hercules, who goes back to the Jack Kirby era making him a prime candidate to finally get a live-action incarnation considering the Eternals was Kirby’s baby. Hercules was a member of The Avengers when Eternals’ Sersi (played by Gemma Chan) and Dane Whitman aka Black Knight (played by Kit Harington) were on the roster. He’s been recently on a lineup of Avengers that echoes where the MCU currently is with members such as Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson aka Captain America, Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster aka Lady, Paul Bettany’s Vision, Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel, and Tom Holland’s Peter Parker aka Spider-Man. Adding Hercules to a new Avengers roster or another superhero team wouldn’t be terribly shocking.
Many fans are assuming that Russell Crowe’s Zeus is likely going to get killed by Christian Bale’s Gorr The God Butcher in Thor: Love & Thunder, but that remains to be seen as he could end up taking the place of Anthony Hopkins’ Odin.
It’s hard to imagine that Marvel wouldn’t attempt to sign-up director Chloe Zhao for the Eternals sequel given that she co-wrote the script and is going to be heavily in-demand if her film Nomadland does well at this weekend’s Academy Awards ceremony, all but assumed given how well it’s been doing at other award shows.
THE RONIN 