Eternals Raises 6 Questions Blade’s MCU Movie Needs To Answer

Mahershala Ali’s debut in Eternals raised multiple questions that his Marvel Cinematic Universe Blade movie now has to answer. It took nearly two years from the time the Oscar-winning actor was confirmed to play Blade to officially join the MCU. Most expected the vampire hunter to appear at some point in MCU Phase 4, but Ali made a surprise debut in Eternals‘ post-credits scene. The voice-only role gave audiences just a tease of what Eric Brooks will be like in the MCU, raising some major questions in the process.

Eternals was not on most radars for a Blade cameo, as the movie was busy enough already introducing nearly a dozen new heroes and explaining the Eternals, Deviants, and Celestials’ history in the MCU. However, that didn’t stop Marvel Studios and director Chloé Zhao from including Mahershala Ali’s voice in the post-credits. The Eternals tease saw Dane Whitman (Kit Harington) acquire the Ebony Blade, a powerful sword with strong connections to his family. Getting the Ebony Blade is the first step in Dane’s journey to becoming the Black Knight, which he hopes can help him save Sersi (Gemma Chan). Before he could pick up his new weapon, though, Blade speaks to Dane and asks if he is really ready for this power, curse, and everything else that comes with claiming the weapon.

Despite the excitement that came with Eternals‘ surprise Blade cameo, it also left many viewers wanting more. Dane Whitman had a small role in the movie, and there was some immediate confusion over who spoke to him in the post-credits scene. It might have been disappointing in some regards, but Marvel Studios clearly has big plans for both characters. Black Knight now seems like a very strong candidate to appear in Blade, which gives the MCU a chance to answer some of Eternals‘ Blade, Black Knight, and Ebony Blade questions.

Why Is Blade Only Appearing After Eternals?

Potentially the biggest question Blade needs to answer after Eternals is why Mahershala Ali’s character is only just now appearing. There is the real-world factor of the character not being part of Marvel Studios’ plans prior to Ali telling Kevin Feige he wanted to play him, but that has always meant the MCU will need to explain where he’s been in the past. Blade’s Eternals cameo indicates he’s an experienced hero, so what was he doing when Loki invaded, Ultron attacked, or Thanos arrived? The MCU has plenty of options to explain why Blade waited until Eternals to join the larger universe, but it will be up to Blade to provide the official explanation.

Is Blade Connected to Dane Whitman’s Uncle?

Eternals’ ending leaves lots of unanswered questions about the circumstances that led to Blade and Dane Whitman’s encounter, including whether or not Eric Brooks is connected to Dane’s uncle. The movie features a few hints about Dane’s uncle, who should be the villain Nathan Garrett based on the comics. Dane’s uncle was a previous owner of the Ebony Blade in the source material, and Eternals wraps up with Dane and his uncle patching up their relationship. This is how he came to obtain the Ebony Blade in the first place, but that also implies that Dane’s uncle used the powerful sword in the past. Since Blade pops up to talk to Dane once he gets the weapon, many have wondered if he is familiar with Dane’s uncle. Blade’s MCU past is completely unexplored to this point, but it could make sense for him and Dane’s uncle to have a connection. This could explain how Blade knew to visit Dane and seems to have an understanding of what it means to pick up the Ebony Blade. If Mahershal Ali’s MCU hero is connected to Dane’s uncle, Blade is the perfect place to make that relationship known.

Did Blade Actually Visit Dane Whitman?

Another question with an unclear answer that comes from Eternals‘ Blade cameo is the nature of his interaction with Dane Whitman. Marvel Studios considered showing Mahershala Ali’s Blade for the first time in the post-credits, but they elected to only use his voice instead. This creates a bit of uncertainty in regard to whether or not Blade physically visited Eternals‘ Dane Whitman. Dane turns his head after hearing Blade speak, which seemingly indicates that the vampire hunter was in the room and just out of the audiences’ view. However, there is also the chance that Blade spoke to Dane through some other method. For all we know, Blade could’ve appeared to Dane through a magical portal opened by Wong, Doctor Strange, or another sorcerer. Since Black Knight and Blade seem to be connected for the MCU’s future, it would be nice if Blade shows the continuation of this scene and reveals what really happened in Eternals.

How Is Blade Connected to Black Knight’s Ebony Blade?

There is also a lingering question about how the Black Knight/Blade setup hints the Daywalker is also connected to the Ebony Blade itself. This comes in part due to Blade’s appearance in Eternals‘ post-credits scene but also because producer Nate Moore teased that Blade and Black Knight do have a connection. The Marvel producer said, “the characteristics of the Ebony Blade are not dissimilar, to some degree, of vampirism.” How the Ebony Blade is connected to vampirism is not known, but that is seemingly the beginning of the explanation for how Blade is tied to the infamous Marvel sword. However, Blade’s connection to the Ebony Blade could go far beyond this. He might have used the sword at some point in the past or have an in-depth understanding of it. If Black Knight is going to be in Blade, then the movie can provide an explanation for how much Eric Brooks really knows about the Ebony Blade.

Is Black Knight A Vampire Hunter?

Some Eternals viewers have also questioned the possibility that Black Knight is a vampire hunter for the MCU. Theories about Black Knight’s history hunting vampires arose from Moore’s quotes about the Ebony Blade having similarities to vampirism. Since the Ebony Blade has been passed down throughout generations, the Black Knight mantle could be one with a very different MCU history compared to the comics. This could potentially tie the Black Knight and Ebony Blade to the origins of vampires, which could go back to the days of King Arthur. Since the Ebony Blade also has a sort of blood lust just like vampires, having the Black Knight mantle be tied to vampires would make some sense. Eternals barely had time to introduce Dane Whitman as a character, so it certainly had no time to explore any possible vampire ties of the Black Knight mantle. As a result, Blade would be the perfect place to potentially reveal this information.

Will Blade & Black Knight Team Up?

There is also the question about Blade and Black Knight’s MCU futures being linked after Eternals, raising the possibility that they could be part of the same super team moving forward. It’s no secret that MCU Phase 4 is building multiple teams that Blade and Black Knight could be part of individually. However, it seems that they’re also going to be teammates on some level. This could happen with Black Knight appearing in Blade in a similar capacity as Black Widow in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which would give Dane and Blade a chance to work together without officially being part of a superhero team.

The MCU can take Blade and Black Knight’s potential partnership a step further, though, by making them teammates at MI-13 or the Midnight Sons. MI-13 is the British superhero team usually led by Captain Britain. They’re both part of the team in the comics, and now that Eternals‘ post-credits linked them together, Blade and Black Knight could be part of the MCU’s first iteration of that team. Meanwhile, the Midnight Sons is a team of supernatural heroes. Blade is commonly associated with the team, and while the Black Knight has never been part of the Midnight Sons in the comics, that’s never stopped the MCU from changing team lineups before. Since the MCU is linking the Ebony Blade to vampirism, the future could see Blade and Black Knight working alongside Doctor Strange, Moon Knight, and other supernatural characters, even if Blade doesn’t answer every question.