Kit Harrington's Black Knight Comments Confirm The Death Of A Divisive MCU Movie
Kit Harington had a brief moment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Eternals (2021), where he played a character who would later go on to become the Black Knight. However, Eternals not only left audiences divided but also marked the end of a team that barely started.
Years later, in an interview with Harrington, we got some closure regarding his fate in the MCU and the death of Eternals. While it may not be what fans wanted, it's not all bad. In fact, there's hope for the future as a certain supernatural corner of the franchise gains more steam.
What Did Kit Harington Say Regarding His 'Eternals' Role?
In an interview with Movieweb, Harrington was asked if there was a future for his character, Dane Whitman, following the events of Eternals. Unfortunately, Harrington could only state: "...I don't think there's any plan to…" regarding further exploring the growth of his character in the MCU.
In Marvel Comics, Dane Whitman wields the Ebony Blade as the Black Knight, a cursed blade that, the more he kills, the more he becomes addicted to combat. It's a part of the character that Harrington has expressed interest in exploring more, and it would work well in dissecting themes of power and addiction, but tied to a superhero.
Sadly, Harrington has no idea what Marvel Studios has planned moving forward, and considering how the MCU is tapering things back, it seems less likely that we will see the Black Knight return for a solo adventure. Even still, his story is so open-ended that, like Black Widow or Hawkeye, we don't need a solo story to get a full story, even if we want to.
'Eternals' and Its Characters Deserved So Much Better
Eternals is a unique MCU movie that focuses more on telling an epic story about humanity rather than a traditional superhero story. Seeing characters who lived for centuries influence the growth of humanity and then have their faith in their creator tested is something we don't see in superhero films often.
But with its long runtime and unrecognizable characters, the weighty lore of Eternals didn't keep people engaged. This led to claims that it was one of the worst movies in the MCU, even with it having Oscar-worthy direction from Chloé Zhao. Years later, it's easier to see that this film deserved much better. With better pacing and a more streamlined cast that didn't involve its greatest hero being an enemy, Eternals could've worked much better.
There's also the fact that both Blade and Black Knight first appeared in this film, and both characters seem to be left in the void with nowhere to go. But not only was it strange to tease the supernatural in the MCU in a film about space and science, but it was also strange to tie the film's poor reception to that. While Eternals deserved so much more, Black Knight and Blade never should've lost a chance to grow.
'Ghost Rider ' Could Be the Key to the Black Knight's Return
With the roots of the Black Knight character tied so heavily to Arthurian legend, there's a supernatural element that keeps the character interesting. With both him and Blade now pushed to the background, another supernatural character is moving forward in Ghost Rider (2028).
In the '90s, Ghost Rider was incredibly popular and also joined a team of other supernatural characters called the Midnight Sons. With the MCU garnering a unique cast of supernatural misfits, Ghost Rider could be the call to arms these characters need to get their time to shine.
Midnight Sons is a perfect beginning for Black Knight, Blade, Werewolf by Night, and Man-Thing to fully claim a place in the MCU, and with Ghost Rider leading the charge, people would be interested. It's a shame to see an actor like Kit Harington be so interested in a role he can't return to, which also confirms the larger fate of the Eternals.
The MCU's supernatural characters are something that viewers have been teased with for years, and it's about time that they got something substantial from it. Black Knight may not be inherently tied to these characters, but he could easily find new life with them, allowing Kit Harington to return to a role he is very passionate about.
