Eternals: Kumail Nanjiani shares therapy experience post film’s negative reviews
Eternals: Kumail Nanjiani shares therapy experience post film’s negative reviews. The actor was greatly affected by the fact that his work was not well recognized, and he took an alternative path.
By Staff
Everyone remembers Eternals, the controversial Marvel Studios film that was able to divide the entire fandom.
It hit theaters in 2021 and quickly garnered quite mixed reviews from critics, many of them openly negative.
Kumail Nanjiani, who is one of the Eternals in the film, offers new statements for the Inside of You podcast, revealing that the poor reception of the installment seriously affected his mental health.
What is Eternals about?
Directed by Chloé Zhao, the film explores the story of a group of immortal beings known as the Eternals, who have lived on Earth in secret for millennia.
These beings were created by the Celestials, powerful cosmic beings, with the purpose of protecting humanity from the Deviants, another ancient race and enemy of the Eternals.
However, after remaining anonymous for centuries, the Eternals are forced to emerge from the shadows and confront a new threat that threatens the very existence of the planet.
The film addresses themes of identity, purpose, and responsibility, as the Eternals face ethical and personal dilemmas in their fight to protect humanity and discover their true destiny in the cosmos.
As the story unfolds, the Eternals find themselves torn between fulfilling their ancestral duty and questioning their role in the universe, especially when they discover hidden truths about their origin and purpose.
Why was Eternals so criticized?
Eternals received mixed reviews due to several factors. One of the main points of criticism was the complexity of the plot and the large number of characters introduced in the film.
Some argued that this made it difficult to emotionally connect with the characters and understand the story as a whole.
Additionally, there were mixed opinions about the pacing of the film, with some viewers feeling that the narrative became slow at certain points.
Others noted that, despite its ambition and attempt to explore deeper themes, the film failed to delve deeply enough into them, leaving questions unanswered and aspects of the plot not fully developed.
Although Eternals offered an ambitious new direction for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, its execution was not entirely satisfactory for some viewers and critics.
What did Kumail Nanjiani say about the negative reviews of Eternals?
During its release time, Eternals divided opinions like no other Marvel Studios film had done so far. Only now, Nanjiani speaks to Inside of You about that difficult period that forced him to seek therapy:
“I was very aware of it… I was reading every review… I worked very hard for it. It was very, very difficult, and that’s when I thought, this is unfair to me, this is unfair to [my wife], I can’t approach my work this way anymore, some things have to change… very intentionally I started to receive therapy, I still talk to my therapist about it.”
What role did Kumail Nanjiani play in Eternals?
Nanjiani is Kingo, a member of the Eternals with the ability to manipulate cosmic energy to create energy projections and powerful explosions.
Kingo is a famous actor on Earth, who has spent centuries perfecting his craft and fending off suspicions about his immortality.
He brings a touch of humor and charisma to the film while also facing ethical and personal dilemmas alongside his fellow Eternals.
