Eternals’ Cliffhanger Remains Ignored, Leaving Earth’s Fate in Arishem’s Hands
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has faced numerous threats over the years, from Loki’s failed invasion of Earth to Thanos’ devastating snap. The Multiverse Saga has only amplified the stakes, with projects like Loki, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness putting the entirety of Earth-616 at risk. Despite the numerous challenges, the MCU has yet to address the cliffhanger ending of Eternals, which has left Earth’s fate in the hands of Arishem.
In the Phase 4 movie, the Eternals defeated the Deviants, defended Earth from Ikaris, and prevented Tiamut from destroying the planet. However, the Celestial Arishem intervened, abducting Sersi, Kingo, and Phastos to read their memories and decide whether Earth should be spared or destroyed. While Arishem appears to be impressed by the Eternals’ care for Earth, he may still deem it unworthy of his mercy.
The MCU took over seven years to introduce the Celestials after Eson the Searcher’s cameo in The Guardians of the Galaxy. Since then, the Celestials have been largely ignored, with only a brief mention in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Marvel Studios has seemingly moved on, with no signs of addressing Arishem’s judgment in any upcoming projects. However, with the multiversal plot of Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, it is possible that the Celestials will make a return.
The MCU’s Earth has been threatened multiple times in the past, with Avengers: Age of Ultron serving as a prime example. Ultron, the titular villain, judged humanity and concluded that the only path to peace was the extinction of the human race. The AI’s crusade against humanity was fueled by its belief that humans were too flawed to coexist peacefully.
The contrast between Ultron’s judgment and Arishem’s decision highlights the complexities of the MCU’s cosmic landscape. While Ultron’s solution was straightforward, Arishem’s deliberation is far more nuanced, leaving the fate of Earth uncertain. As the MCU continues to explore the mysteries of the multiverse, fans can only speculate about the eventual outcome of Arishem’s judgment. Will Earth be spared, or will it face a catastrophic fate at the hands of the Celestials? Only time will tell.