The MCU has a myriad of cinematic moments that essentially made audiences feel ghosted. However, very few come close to the scale of some of the post-credit scenes in Eternals. Precisely the one where the portal opens, Pip the Troll (voiced by Patton Oswalt) stumbles out, and then Harry Styles just casually strolls in as Eros, Thanos’ more attractive brother. It was a cameo that got many fans excited about the prospect of things to come.
Since then, though, we haven’t heard or seen anything about the character. We mean no sequel, no cameo in another movie, and no passing reference. Understandably, many MCU fans have wondered what happened to Styles and his Eros character. Beyond that, there’s also the question of whether there’s a future for him in the MCU. This feature provides detailed answers to those questions
What Really Happened to Harry Styles’ Eros After Eternals?
The simplest, straightforward answer to that question is that the MCU basically moved on. Before we examine what that means in detail, you need to remember that Eternals received mixed reviews when it dropped in 2021. For one, most of the general audience thought it was boring. They also didn’t quite get along with the introduction of a lot of new characters that nobody had really heard of. Aside from that, it also feels like the studio introduced Styles and his Eros character in a blatant attempt to get the internet buzzing. And it worked! For about five minutes.
In reality, however, the truth remains that they didn’t quite know what to do with the character. This is backed up by Kumail Nanjiani’s revelation on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, where he revealed that Marvel filmed a different version of Eros’ intro with his character Kingo. When you think about it now, it gives the impression that the studio merely wanted the hype of casting Styles without any solid plan for how to use him. It was sort of like buying a fancy and expensive kitchen appliance that you use once before allowing it to collect dust on the counter.
Still on the Marvel side of things, Eros disappeared because the studio’s entire schedule went sideways. They started pumping out so much content that people got superhero fatigue. An Eternals 2 never materialized, and they subsequently shifted focus to the Multiverse saga and street-level shows like Daredevil. Suffice it to say that Eros just didn’t fit into that vibe. Of course, one could also argue that Styles himself unwittingly played a key role in MCU’s decision to put Eros on the back burner.
After that short cameo, his acting career, which featured movies like Don’t Worry Darling and My Policeman, took a backseat as his singing career blossomed. He released a Grammy-winning album, toured the world for months, and generally focused on living his best life as a music icon. Consequently, all we have is a studio that has essentially lost the plot, and a star who’s busy being, well, Harry Styles. If that’s not the perfect blueprint for a forgotten cameo, we wonder what is.
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Could Marvel Still Find a Place for Eros?
While it seems like both Marvel and Styles have moved on to other things, one is left to wonder if Marvel could still find a place for its Eros character that is still somewhere in the MCU basement. Given the MCU’s track record of resurrecting seemingly long-forgotten characters, it would be unwise to write him off completely. Marvel just needs to find the right storyline for this complicated and messy character. In the comics, he’s basically a charming, party-loving space hippie with the power to make people feel good, which, when you think about it, sounds just like Harry Styles’ public persona. However, those antics, which include influencing emotions, might create a bit of a consent nightmare by today’s standards. That said, Marvel’s writers may have to clean up certain aspects of his characteristics to make it work.
Also, there’s the fact that recently, Kevin Feige said, during a roundtable interview, that some characters are basically planted as seedlings that may take years to pay off. His reference to Tim Blake Nelson’s The Leader (also known as Dr. Samuel Sterns) shows precedent. The character from 2008’s The Incredible Hulk returned in Captain America: Brave New World after nearly two decades. So an Eros’ return may not be beyond the realms of possibility. You could even argue that, given his cosmic characteristics, a character like Eros wouldn’t look out of place in future Guardians of the Galaxy installments. It would be a missed opportunity if the big shots at Marvel decide Styles’ time in the MCU was a one-and-done appearance. They know the star power they’re sitting on, and it will come as a huge surprise if they choose not to tap that potential again.
If Eros ever makes a comeback, it shouldn’t be a cameo. Until then, however, you can check out Eternals on Disney+.
