Kumail Nanjiani, who played Kingo in Marvel Studios` 2021 film Eternals, recently shed light on the ambitious scope of his initial contract with the studio. Despite the movie`s modest global box office performance, Nanjiani’s agreement reportedly outlined extensive future commitments, including six cinematic appearances, a dedicated video game, and even a theme park attraction – none of which ultimately materialized.
During a candid discussion on Mike Birbiglia’s “Working It Out” podcast, Nanjiani recounted the surprising details of his comprehensive deal. He stated, “I signed on for six movies… I signed on for a video game. I signed on for a theme park ride. They make you sign up for all this stuff… And so you`re like, `Oh, this is the next 10 years of my life…` And then none of that happened.” This extensive agreement was presumably contingent on Eternals achieving significant commercial success, akin to other Marvel blockbusters such as Guardians of the Galaxy, which successfully launched various licensed products and related experiences.
Although Marvel Studios has, over the past two decades, produced relatively few video games directly tied to its Cinematic Universe films, the possibility of an Eternals game was clearly a consideration in the initial planning. Nanjiani had previously revealed that he sought therapy following the film`s mixed critical reception. He now credits that experience with helping him to detach his self-worth from public opinion, explaining to Birbiglia that he realized too much of his self-esteem was tied to external reactions to his work.
Eternals grossed $402.1 million worldwide, a figure that Marvel Studios has found increasingly challenging to consistently surpass with all its recent releases. Despite its reception, Nanjiani expressed pride in the film and his involvement, noting that his journey with Eternals has since provided rich material for his latest stand-up comedy routines. Notably, the upcoming film Captain America: Brave New World is currently the only confirmed Marvel project set to continue any narrative threads or character arcs introduced in Eternals.