Kumail Nanjiani Says He’s ‘Very Proud’ of His Performance in Marvel’s ‘Eternals’: ‘I Do Not Get to Choose What the Reviewers Are Going to Think’

https://variety.com/2025/film/news/kumail-nanjiani-eternals-marvel-proud-reviewers-1236613973/

35 comments

  1. > “I’m very proud of my performance in it,” he said. “And it’s rare to say, but I actually wouldn’t change anything about how I am in that movie.”

    > “Most times if I’m acting in something, I do not get to decide how good it’s gonna be,” the “Silicon Valley” star explained. “I do not get to choose how the audience is going to receive it. I do not get to choose how much money it’s going to make. I do not get to choose what the reviewers are going to think of it. What I do get to choose is whether or not I learned from it, you know? So to me, that’s been a thing that I have to remind myself over and over and over and over – is that a failure is not a failure. It truly is an opportunity to learn… What I can control is learning from every job and taking a joyful approach to every job.”

  2. Yeah whatever dude. Cash your check and keep it moving. Christian Bale went all out for Marvel slop and it didn’t change the fact that it was Marvel slop.

  3. He also doesnt get to choose if the writers will make the movie enjoyable .

  4. He made using finger guns look cool, I’m just disappointed he didn’t combine both hands for a rifle, or shotgun… 😒

  5. Eternals is not bad because of the actors. Eternals is bad because of the pacing, writing and storytelling.

  8. Eternals gets an irrational amount of hate tbh. It at least had the balls to be visually different than the formulaic way other Marvel movies have looked post-Endgame and I enjoyed most of the characters. Would’ve liked to see where their story went

  10. He was the best part of the movie. Unbelievable that the writers had his character leave before the climax.

  11. That movie was waaaaaay better than what the seemingly general consensus says. 

  12. Dude is an amazing actor, I have enjoyed everything I’ve seen him in. Didn’t realize he’s also an amazing stand up comedian until I just saw his new Netflix special

  14. I loved Eternals. Sue me.

    It was a nice break from the same old cookie cutter MCU formula.

  16. May be the largest loser to super hero fatigue and marvel seemingly wanting to ignore them before and after their existence. Like, you bring up stuff from their film in the new cap film and yet can’t find a spot for. Idk. Them? Not saying it’s the best marvel film. But it’s hate is slightly overblown.

  17. Actors performances and quality of the movie are not always related. Especially supporting roles.

  18. This dude has so much else under his belt, can we all (including him) just forget about Eternals. God knows the movie is forgettable enough.

  19. Drug PSA skit with Key and Peele is always gonna be my favorite thing with him in it.

  21. He’s a great addition to any production. Love him as Prismo and glad he’s voicing him again.

  22. In my humble opinion, I feel the primary reason externals didn’t work is the plot was too depressing. I think movies in the superhero genre should have conflict but the world building itself was just very climate change reminiscent and made me sad.

    That said I wouldn’t mind them retconning it so the actors and creators could have more work (I know that’s not realistic). I just am sad for them, as a creative who had a similar heartbreak. You never know how audiences will react.

  23. This film is like the titanic. It was supposed to be the christening of a new era of Marvel but ended up being a giant shipwreck everyone will talk about for the next several decades instead.

  24. Am I missing anything important if I have not seen this movie?

  27. I think The Eternals exists in this space that proves mainline Marvel fans really don’t want anything different in the film world. To me, the fact that this, The Marvels and Black Panther: WF are seen among fans as duds is so confusing to me, and even on the show side, I see so few people talking about Loki or Werewolf By Night anymore.

    I wonder if this new phase will help by putting X-Men front and center, but I don’t have much faith given they’re already bringing back the two big departures from Infinity War, Chris Evans and RDJ.

  29. Not a popular opinion but I enjoyed it for the most part

  30. I skipped Eternals due to Marvel burnout. But critics seem to just be eternally unhappy people with a pathological need to find fault.

  31. I liked the Eternals, and I wish Kumail had a larger role in it.

  32. As someone who isn’t a fan of the marvel movies, I thought Eternals was fun and interesting!

  33. I actually enjoyed Eternals. But it should’ve been a Disney+ series, not a movie.

  34. It’s the only marvel project that would have actually benefited from being a show instead of trying to introduce all of the characters and rich the story into a movie

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