Salma Hayek, who is set to play Ajak in the upcoming Marvel movie Eternals, has revealed in a recent interview that the movie differs from other Marvel movies in that it was shot on real locations most of the time.
The shooting of Eternals had previously gotten delayed because of the pandemic and has now resumed. The movie is set to release in late 2021. During a recent interview with Variety, Hayek, who is set to head the star cast as the leader of the Eternals, spoke about how Eternals differs from its predecessors in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), in that it was shot using real-life locations most of the time, unlike the elaborate sets of most Marvel movies.
“It has a completely different DNA from the [other Marvel movies]. It’s shot different than all the other ones. It’s in real locations and they found some crazy extraterrestrial-looking locations. I don’t know if I’m allowed to talk about what they do with the camera, but…it’s not mostly done in post. The cinematography is incredible.”
Salma Hayek
Directed by Chloé Zhao, an Oscar favorite for her work on Nomadland, Marvel’s Eternals is shaping up to be a significant departure from the other MCU movies in more than one way. Eternals will span multiple millennia and is set to feature MCU’s first openly gay superhero in Brian Tyree Henry’s Phastos.
Zhao, who is helming Eternals, has recently earned a Golden Globe nomination for Nomadland. The move is being dubbed “historic” as she is the first woman of Asian descent to land a nomination in the direction category—a category known for ignoring women.
Hayek credits Zhao’s creative vision for the change in Eternals’ production style. She also said that playing Ajak in a mainstream superhero movie felt empowering to her. This is a welcome move and will hopefully challenge ageist and sexist stereotypes that ail show businesses around the world.
“It was empowering. It really moved me. …They told me [early in Hayek’s career], “It’s never going to happen for you here.” I am representing. It’s not because I’m putting on an outfit but we get the right to be superheroes today. I’m also 54. So there was something really moving, not just for me, but for everything, all the different stereotypes. She’s not sexy. You know what I’m saying? She’s not sexy at all. I’m very short. I’ve been bullied for being short my entire life. And suddenly, it doesn’t matter. You’re a superhero in the Marvel Universe. It moved me.”
Salma Hayek
Hayek, who is currently busy promoting her upcoming movie Bliss, said that although she wasn’t really conversant with the Marvel Universe at first and didn’t have much of a clue about Ajak, she loves the director and the cast and what each of them brings to the table.
About Eternals
Eternals is a 2021 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics of the same name. It is the 26th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film is directed by Chloé Zhao, who wrote the screenplay with Patrick Burleigh, Ryan Firpo, and Kaz Firpo.
In the film, the Eternals, an immortal alien race, emerge from hiding after thousands of years to protect Earth from their ancient counterparts, the Deviants.
It stars an ensemble cast including Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Ridloff, Barry Keoghan, Don Lee, Harish Patel, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, and Angelina Jolie.
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