Chloe Zhao’s Eternals mixes actors playing superheroes with real-life superheroes

Chloe Zhao’s Eternals will continue her tradition of using real people alongside actors. She has cast Richard Madden and Gemma Chan, but they played alongside real-life superheroes with no acting experience.

“I think it’s important that we had that sense of authenticity that only real-life superheroes can provide,” said Zhao.

“They ground the film in a reality that can only come from a life-time of battling super-villains with your heat-vision, or using your space-magic to prevent worldwide catastrophe. This has definitely got a different, more authentic feel to most superhero films.”

Horse Man appears in the film, he was bitten by a radioactive horse at an early age and developed the powers of a horse.

“At first, I was pretty nervous,” he said

“I mean, it’s Chloe Zhao’s Eternals. She’s just won an Oscar. You walk on set and you see that guy from Game of Thrones over there, and then that funny dude from The Big Sick, and then over there it’s Angelina freaking Jolie!

“They were all great though. They were really interested in my work, and particularly my recent battle with The Mollusc. By the end we were all just good friends.”

Gemma Chan enjoyed the experience of working with non-professionals.

“I had a number of scenes with Captain Fancy,” she explained.

“He was just incredible. I was a bit in awe of him, to be honest. I mean, I’m just an actor. I just pretend to be someone else. He battled Planet Man! That’s a man with all the powers of a planet, and Captain Fancy defeated him! I’m just sitting here having coffee with him.

“Pretty cool.”

Chloe Zhao’s Eternals will release later this year. Zhao is already understood to be working on her next film set in the Star Wars universe. It is expected to feature actors alongside real-life Wookies, Jedis and Ewoks.