In 2021, Harry Styles made his Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) debut in Eternals, but four years later, the future for this character appears more bleak than ever. Eternals was the first movie in the Multiverse Saga to introduce a new superhero team, but the reception for this film was considerably less warm than Marvel Studios may have expected.
Despite being directed by the incredibly talented Chloé Zhao and featuring a star-studded cast that included Kumail Nanjiani, Richard Madden, Gemma Chan, Salma Hayek, and Angelina Jolie to name a few, the movie was a flop financially, and received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike.
Harry Styles’ Celebrity Status Means His MCU Debut Could Have Been Huge For Marvel
However, despite the movie being panned, there were some bright spots that provided hope for the future of these characters in the MCU. With the film ending on a major cliffhanger as Sersi is taken into space by the Celestial, Arishem, some of her siblings chose to take to the skies and track her down.
It was here that Harry Styles made his Marvel debut, appearing alongside Pip the Troll voiced by Patton Oswalt. Styles plays Starfox, another Eternal whose history in the comics is intertwined with major MCU figures like Thanos. However, the film only briefly introduces Starfox, leaving space for a future story to expand on the character.
And considering Harry Styles is a global pop star with a handful of film credits under his belt, the potential for his role in the MCU to expand and become even more important was huge. This collaboration could have been the start of something special, but unfortunately, it appears to now be a ᴅᴇᴀᴅ end.
Years Later, Harry Styles’ Debut Is An Awkward Cliffhanger We May Never Get Answers To
With confirmation that there are no plans for Eternals 2, and the distance the MCU has created from these characters, it feels highly unlikely that the characters will be revisited anytime soon. But that leaves the character of Starfox in an awkward spot, and thus Styles’ link to the MCU appears to have dissolved.
Considering how pivotal this character is in the comics, and the fact that he is the brother of Thanos, there was potential to create an elaborate and engaging story with Starfox at the center. But now, with no development of the MCU version of this character, their story and origins are a complete mystery.
Of course, it makes sense that Marvel is avoiding building on stories that have not gained the levels of success they came to expect. But, the Multiverse Saga has seen a string of these underdeveloped stories with seemingly no resolution. Unfortunately, Harry Styles’ Starfox is just one more character that will fade into the background of the MCU after Eternals.