The future of Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron in the MCU appears bleak, as the MCU reportedly shifts its focus to guaranteed hits.

With a fully star-studded cast and an impeccable filmmaker behind, on paper, Eternals seemed like a recipe for success. But as the story goes, the Chloe Zhao-led flick, starring Angelina Jolie, became the company’s first entry to earn rotten status at the Tomatometer, and the film even failed to make a big splash at the box office.

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As of now, the future of Eternals and Jolie in the MCU remains uncertain. Moreover, Jolie isn’t the lone major Hollywood superstar, whose Marvel future has no sense of direction, as action icon Charlie Theron is also in the same boat.

Angelina Jolie Has No Issue With Reprising Her Marvel Role

Angelina Jolie in Eternals [Credit Marvel Studios]

Earlier this year, it was initially rumored that the MCU was shifting its focus to projects that would prove to be guaranteed hits at the box office, and a follow-up to Eternals was no longer in their scheme of things. While the Zhao-led film was far from perfect, the departure from other streamlined Marvel releases made it a breath of fresh air, with Angelina Jolie‘s Thena being its biggest highlight.

But like the sequel itself, her future in the MCU remains uncertain, even though the actress once expressed that she’d be happy to return to Thena’s shoes in the future.

I loved being part of the family, so I have no desire to separate from the family. But I would be happy to play her again and explore even more deeply the struggles that she has. I think it’s fun thinking of where they’ve been over the years. We’ve got thousands of years worth of material. We can take her anywhere. I think that’s fun and I like the idea that we can pop up somewhere, maybe in other Marvel movies.

Although we got to see Jolie excel as Thena onscreen, the same can’t be said for Theron, who was only involved in a cameo role in Doctor Strange 2.

Charlize Theron’s MCU Return Remains Unsettled

Charlize Theron as Clea

With no release date in sight for Doctor Strange 3, it can’t be said for certain if we’ll ever see Charlize Theron‘s Clea firing on all cylinders in the MCU. The Fury Road star herself isn’t sure if she’ll be brought back to reprise the role in future MCU projects.

I don’t. No, I haven’t gotten a call. I’ve not gotten a– Is that bad? Is that bad? Is that bad? No, I’m not lying… I haven’t gotten a call. Is that bad?

Fans, too, share the same concern, especially for Thena, following the box-office disappointment of Eternals.

Considering Theron and Jolie are arguably two of the biggest action icons of our time, fans will hope the MCU won’t waste their potential by keeping them in the dark.

Eternals is available to stream on Disney Plus.