Between its stellar cast and soaring production values – not to mention the spirited Marvel hype train – it is easy to see why Eternals is one of the most anticipated films of late 2021.
The pandemic has made keeping track of film release schedules somewhat of a mercurial endeavour.
Despite Google suggesting Eternals will hit cinemas in the UAE this Thursday, fans will have to wait a little longer than that before they get their next Marvel fix.
Here is everything you need to know about Eternals ahead of its UAE release:
When is ‘Eternals’ coming out in the UAE?
On the heels of Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which became the first pandemic-era film to cross the $400 million global box office mark, Eternals will be coming out across UAE cinemas on Thursday, November 11.
The film can already be spotted on local cinemas’ coming-soon lists, with tickets expected to go up for early sale sometime next week.
What is 'Eternals' about?
Eternals is named after and tells the story of a group of immortal beings, who have secretly lived on Earth for seven millennia, as they reunite to protect the planet against the Deviants, their evil counterparts.
The film takes place in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, when half of the world’s population, snapped into nonbeing by Thanos and the Infinity Gauntlet, return to existence.
Who stars in 'Eternals'?
Perhaps the most alluring aspect of Eternals is the film’s cast.
The Chloe Zhao-directed film brings together a dream team of A-listers, from Salma Hayek and Angelina Jolie to Game of Thrones’ Richard Madden and Kit Harington.
The film’s starry cast includes Crazy Rich Asians star Gemma Chan, Train to Busan actor Don Lee, comedian and The Big Sick actor Kumail Nanjiani, Atlanta star Brian Tyree Henry, Sound of Metal actor Lauren Ridloff, American Animals actor Barry Keoghan, The Lodge actor Lia McHugh, Four Weddings and a Funeral (miniseries) actor Harish Patel and even One Direction’s Harry Styles.
What are early reviews saying?
The Marvel Studios film had its world premiere in Los Angeles in October, and though it still has a few days to go before being released in the US, early reviews have started trickling in.
They’re not great.
Eternals is projected to become the first Marvel Studios film to receive a below 60 per cent score on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. The film currently has a critics' score of 58, designating it as "Rotten" and effectively ending Marvel Studios' 25-film "Fresh" streak.
While the first tide of reviews from those who attended the world premiere were favourable, negative comments have begun piling up, with critics slamming the film’s “dull and predictable” storyline, saying it had “too many characters” and “too little plot”.
Rotten Tomatoes' critics' consensus reads: “An ambitious superhero epic that soars as often as it strains, Eternals takes the MCU in intriguing – and occasionally confounding – new directions.”
However, there are plenty of positive remarks as well, particularly where the film’s visuals are concerned, with one critic writing that Eternals is the “single most unique and visually stunning Marvel movie ever”.
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The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 650hp at 6,750rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,500-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 11.12L/100km
Price: From Dh796,600
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
'THE WORST THING YOU CAN EAT'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
Results
UAE beat Nigeria by five wickets
Hong Kong beat Canada by 32 runs
Friday fixtures
10am, Tolerance Oval, Abu Dhabi – Ireland v Jersey
7.30pm, Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi – Canada v Oman
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Director: Peyton Reed
Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas
Three stars
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The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
Company%20Profile
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'The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey'
Rating: 3/5
Directors: Ramin Bahrani, Debbie Allen, Hanelle Culpepper, Guillermo Navarro
Writers: Walter Mosley
Stars: Samuel L Jackson, Dominique Fishback, Walton Goggins