MCU Star Reveals Ambitious “Scrapped” Plans That Never Came to Be

 Date: August 25, 2025

In a candid and revealing moment on Mike Birbiglia’s Working It Out podcast, Eternals star Kumail Nanjiani divulged the extraordinary long-term Marvel plans he believed were in place—plans that, ultimately, never materialized.

What Was Planned—and Canceled

Nanjiani revealed that when he signed on to play Kingo in the 2021 Marvel blockbuster Eternals, his contract was far-reaching. He expected to star in six MCU films, as well as appear in a video game and a theme park ride, effectively giving him a decade-long tenure in the universe. "I signed on for six movies. I signed on for a video game. I signed on for a theme park ride,” he explained. “They make you sign up for all this stuff… And then none of that happened."

The Fallout

However, Eternals was met with lukewarm reviews—holding a 47% rating on Rotten Tomatoes—and underwhelming box office success, pulling in around $402 million globally on a $236 million budget. This reversal derailed the expansive roadmap laid out for Nanjiani’s character, one that he had anticipated for years.

Emotional Toll and Therapy

The fallout hit Nanjiani harder than the public may have realized. Reflecting on the psychological impact, he admitted, “It shattered me too much. That was when I was like, ‘Oh, I need to go to therapy to figure this out.’”. The emotional weight of the project’s reception and the derailment of his MCU trajectory led him to seek counseling. Interestingly, he’s now transforming that raw experience into comedic material for the closing segment of his upcoming stand-up special.

Still Proud, Despite Disappointment

Even with the setbacks, Nanjiani expressed deep pride in his involvement with Eternals: “I loved the movie. I’m very proud of it,” he said, though he conceded with a wry laugh that perhaps the film featured “a few too many people”—a nod to its sprawling ensemble cast.

As for the continuation of those early plans, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed that there are currently no plans for an Eternals sequel, quashing hopes that Nanjiani—or the rest of the immortal team—would return soon.

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Bottom Line

Kumail Nanjiani’s revelations offer a rare glimpse into the uncertainties of massive franchises like the MCU—where even the most confident long-term contracts can vanish overnight. His story highlights how even blockbuster ambitions can collide with reality, reshaping career paths and ref

raming personal narratives.