Although the ending for Marvel’s Eternals offered good material for a potential sequel and other MCU projects, director Chloé Zhao admitted she originally had something very different in mind. In an interview with Empire, Zhao made a statement about the original conclusion for the film. Check it out below:

“And we actually had another ending that is really bleak. Bleak. I didn’t hate it, because I’m used to films that are more melancholy. But I don’t think it went down well with audiences. It used to end with everybody back on the ship, minds erased and just going on to another planet, like The Twilight Zone. I remember when it goes to black, everyone was like, “I don’t know what to do.” And also, it’s the MCU, and you want to be excited for what’s next.”

In the end, Sersi (Gemma Chan), Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani), and Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry) are summoned by Arishem (David Kaye) as a result for destroying the birth of the Celestial Tiamat. He also seeks these Earth-based Eternals to see if humankind is even worth saving. 

While the ending offers plenty of opportunity for a second installment, there is currently no information about whether it will happen or not. According to Collider, the film has grossed $164 million domestically so far. With that being said, it’s hard to imagine that Marvel won’t plan to make a sequel. 

Eternals is currently in theaters.