I'm worried that my favorite superhero speedster might not be seen again in the MCU following her debut in 2021's 27 actors cast in Avengers: Doomsday, including of the Avengers, the Thunderbolts, the Fantastic Four and the X-Men, but there are many other actors who weren't mentioned. The likes of Mark Ruffalo, Brie Larson, Tom Holland and Benedict Cumberbatch, among others, have been ignored, but there are even more stars I want to see return.

While there are a number of superhero teams expected to return to battle cosmic Eternals team and its incredible stars from the MCU.

Lauren Ridloff Doesn’t Think Makkari Will Return In Avengers: Doomsday

Makkari Made Her Debut Alongside The Other Eternals In 2021

Eternals' main cast included some very talented stars that made hugely exciting additions to the MCU. Alongside Salma Hayek, Angelina Jolie, Don Lee, Lia McHugh, Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Brian Tyree Henry and Barry Keoghan, The Walking Dead star Lauren Ridloff also appeared in Eternals as the superhero Makkari. Makkari is a speedster, allowing her to move at remarkable speeds and traverse the globe in mere moments. I love how this power was depicted in Eternals, and am worried that Makkari might not return after Lauren Ridloff's new comments.

Speaking to The Direct on the red carpet for the 2025 documentary, Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore, Lauren Ridloff revealed that it's "not likely" that Makkari will be returning in Avengers: Doomsday or, in fact, in any MCU project. This makes me pretty worried about Lauren Ridloff's MCU future and those of her Eternals cast-mates, as I wish Marvel Studios would stop ignoring these formidable heroes. Speaking to Business Insider in 2022, Ridloff suggested that she "would think" Makkari would return, so these new comments are a real change of heart.

The Direct: You played Makkari in Eternals, which I loved, by the way. We haven't seen that character since. So, I wanted to know if Marvel has given you any hints about when we might see [the Eternals] next. Because, after all, the next Avengers film is starting up soon.

Lauren Ridloff: Not likely. I don't know, my magic eight-ball is telling me, 'Not likely.'

So far, only What If...? season 3 has referenced Eternals and its characters, as Kumail Nanjiani's Kingo teamed up with Agatha Harkness to thwart Tiamut's emergence and even defeat Arishem. The poor reception towards Phase 4's Eternals has seemingly pushed Marvel Studios to ignore the team, even though the 2021 movie has received new retrospective praise and iration. Despite its flaws, I loved Eternals back in Phase 4, so I am desperate to see the titular team get brought back to the MCU, with Avengers: Doomsday being the perfect opportunity, so Ridloff's new comments have made me nervous.

I Really Wanted To See The Eternals Return To The MCU After Their Phase 4 Debut

I Loved The Eternals In The MCU's Phase 4 & Want To See Them Return

I think it would be a huge shame for Marvel Studios to just completely ignore the Eternals in the MCU's future. Their debut in 2021 brought something completely new and interesting to the MCU, and introduced an entirely new mythology and an immense history that filled in huge gaps in the franchise's timeline and established a whole new status quo. Eternals shook up the MCU's Phase 4, but has had no impact since, but I think it's a mistake for Marvel to just move on from this corner of the MCU and its formidable characters.

One of the problems that I had with Eternals was that the Chloé Zhao spectacular tried to introduce too many new characters, and the restrictions of a feature film's length meant that none got the level of development they deserved. Eternals' characters might have felt lackluster because the movie was stretched a bit too thin, but this just makes me think that Marvel Studios needs to bring them back even more. Bringing the Eternals back can wrap up the movie's loose ends and give its heroes more attention, which could make them even more central to the MCU.

Lauren Ridloff's Makkari is my favorite Eternal, so I was sad to see her get basically no focus in Eternals. She did get a chance to display her power, however, and I much preferred the interpretation of Makkari's enhanced speed to that of the likes of the Flash or Quicksilver, so I would love to see this repeated in the MCU's future. This was the most realistic depiction of super-speed I've ever seen, and this, combined with Makkari's kind heart and genuine emotion, made her my favorite Eternal, so I'd love to see her come back.

Where Could Makkari & The Eternals Return To The MCU If Not In Avengers: Doomsday?

I Hope Marvel Studios Still Brings Back The Eternals Somehow

While Lauren Ridloff's comments might cast doubt on Makkari and the other Eternals returning to the MCU at all, I think it would be a huge mistake for the team to just be ignored. If not in Avengers: Doomsday, which would be the perfect place for the Eternals to return, I think there are many more opportunities for the cosmic heroes to show their faces again. Perhaps most notably, I'm still holding out hope for a direct sequel to Eternals to be developed, which would be the best place for Makkari and the other Eternals to be developed much more.

As cosmic superheroes, I could see the Eternals having a role in the MCU's as-yet-unannounced Thor 5, teaming up with Chris Hemsworth's God of Thunder after his return in Avengers: Doomsday. It would also be great to see the Eternals have a role in Avengers: Secret Wars, though I'd be worried that Marvel might use the rumored soft-reboot of the MCU to write the team out. Captain America: Brave New World revisited Celestial Island after Eternals, so I'd love to see Avengers: Doomsday or any number of MCU projects continue to address the team's impact on the MCU.

MCU Movies

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  Thunderbolts*

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  The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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  Avengers: Doomsday (2026)

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  Spider-Man: Brand New Day

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  Avengers: Secret Wars

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