One of the new Eternals characters, Black Knight, could be very important for Avengers 5, whenever the sequel releases. The news that Kit Harington will play Black Knight in Eternals was considered a huge deal for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s been said that the casting of the Game of Thrones star means that Marvel’s plans for the character may extend beyond Eternals. So what exactly does Marvel intend to do with Black Knight, and what does his future entail? It could be that his role in the MCU is tied directly to Marvel’s Avengers 5.

In the comics, Dane Whitman aka Black Knight is a classic Avenger and Marvel’s greatest swordsman. The character is also the owner of one of the most important weapons in the Marvel Universe: the Ebony Blade. There are several questions surrounding Black Knight’s role in the MCU. Where he fits into Eternals hasn’t been revealed, and where he will go from there is also a secret. It seems highly likely that Marvel already has other projects in mind for the character, but what they are remains to be seen. The most obvious option is Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, considering Black Knight’s ties to Doctor Strange and the mystical nature of the character. Even so, Eternals - and possibly Doctor Strange 2 - could just be stepping stones to Avengers 5.

Black Knight can help fill a void in the next Avengers movie. Avengers: Endgame cost the MCU three of its biggest heroes, and a fourth, Spider-Man, became the casualty of a split between Marvel and Sony. This is why it’s so important for Marvel to rebuild its stable of heroes. Black Knight could stand alongside Captain Marvel, Doctor Strange, and Black Panther as the new faces of the MCU and members of the next Avengers team, especially considering how unique the character and his powers are.

To expect this much from a C-list hero like Black Knight could seem unusual, but it doesn’t seem impossible, based on his comic book history. In the late 1980s, Black Knight was a member of the Avengers who took part in many of their adventures. As the years passed, Black Knight’s association with the team grew to a point where he became the new field leader, and perhaps most importantly, the face of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Black Knight factored heavily into many of the Avengers’ biggest stories in the early 1990s and took center stage on numerous comic covers.

Storytelling-wise, Black Knight was such a driving force in the 1990s era of The Avengers that if this were to translate to the MCU, Black Knight could end up with an extremely important role in Avengers 5. If Kit Harington’s Black Knight follows in the footsteps of his comic book counterpart, he could very well use his tactical expertise and expert swordsmanship to lead the team in Avengers 5 and potentially beyond. He’s not a character that audiences are used to seeing in the MCU, and he could transform the entire franchise.

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  • Black Widow Release Date: 2021-07-09 The Eternals Release Date: 2021-11-05 Shang Chi Release Date: 2021-09-03 Doctor Strange 2 Release Date: 2022-05-06 Thor: Love and Thunder Release Date: 2022-07-08 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Release Date: 2022-11-11