Chloe Zhao Explains Why The Sex Scene In Eternals Is Included In The Film
John F. Trent
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Eternals director Chloe Zhao recently explained why a sex scene between Richard Madden’s Ikaris and Gemma Chan’s Sersi is included in the film.
Chloé Zhao attends a BAFTA screening and Q&A of Marvel Studios’ “Eternals” in London, UK on October 28, 2021.
Zhao previously discussed the sex scene with IndieWire detailing that the sex scene was already in the treatment for the film before she even joined as director.
She explained to IndieWire, “From that moment to what you see onscreen there was definitely a lot of discussion about how to do it.”
“But I think the desire to do something different is a very natural desire for where Marvel Studios is right now. I think it’s like Westerns coming into the revisionist period of the 70s. I think it’s happening to superhero films — or at least we’re on the edge of that. And so these scenes just started to happen naturally,” she elaborated.
Zhao then detailed, “For us to be able to show two people who love each other, not just emotionally and intellectually but also physically, and to have a sex scene that will be seen by a lot of people that shows their love and compassion and gentleness — I think it’s a really beautiful thing.”
Gemma Chan and Richard Madden make a surprise appearance at a fan screening of Marvel Studios’ “Eternals” in London, UK on October 28, 2021.
Now, Zhao has explained why the scene is included in the film while speaking with Slashfilm.
First, she reiterated that the scene had already been included in the treatment before she became director saying, “Well, as you know in the filmmaking process from the day you write something on the page to showing it to an audience, people come in with ideas and accidents, good and bad. I think for this specific idea it was in the treatment, it was in the script.”
She added, “We planned on shooting it and then once we shot it, we edited it, we showed it to Disney, we showed it to Marvel and everyone said, “Oh, this is beautiful,” and that’s the end of the conversation. So it’s actually a very smooth process.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 27: Gemma Chan and Richard Madden attending the UK Gala screening of Marvel Studios’ “Eternals” at BFI IMAX Waterloo on October 27, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Disney)
Zhao then detailed why it was included explaining, “Also, if you have seen the film you know the love between these two in a way defines the fate of humanity, of our planet. So I like to show them not just loving each other intellectually, emotionally, but also physically.”
“And to show a sexual encounter in a compassionate, loving way, I think it’s a very positive thing to do,” she concluded.
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 27: Chloé Zhao attends the UK Gala Screening of Marvel Studios’ “Eternals” in London, UK on October 27, 2021.
The official description for Eternals states, “Marvel Studios’ “Eternals” follows a group of heroes from beyond the stars who had protected the Earth since the dawn of man. When monstrous creatures called the Deviants, long thought lost to history, mysteriously return, the Eternals are forced to reunite in order to defend humanity once again.”
The movie arrives in theaters on November 5, 2021.
Chloé Zhao, Barry Keoghan, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Kit Harington, Richard Madden and Gemma Chan make a surprise appearance at a fan screening of Marvel Studios’ “Eternals” in London, UK on October 28, 2021.
What do you make of Zhao’s explanation for the scene being included?
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