Summary
When Kro appeared in Phase 4 via 2021’sEternals,he proved to be underwhelming but he was very nearly a terrifying villain more fearsome to behold than anything else in the MCU. There was no question that when he first did battle withEternals' castof superheroes,he seemed to combine immense power with a menacing appearance. He was also framed as a major antagonist for the film, and it almost looked at one point as if he could become a serious bad guy in the MCU as the story went into phases 5 and 6.
There was solid evidence that Kro would be a big bad when he succeeded in killing some important characters throughout the film, but then byEternals’endinghe is neutralized by Thena and, in actuality, his apparent powers and fierce appearance weren’t enough to ensure his staying power.This led to him feeling like he was a wasted opportunity in Phase 4and, instead of becoming a major player in the vein of Thanos or Kang, he was just one more generic baddie dispatched to moveEternalsstory forward. But things could have been very different.
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MCU’s Unused Kro Design Looks Like A Horror Movie Monster
Early Designs For The Character Could Feel Like They’re From A Different Universe
A series ofEternalsconcept artillustrations shared by character artist Jerad S. Marantz showed a startling early design for Kro and the difference is so striking thatthe villain seems better suited to a horror movie than fighting superheroes inEternals. Even the clay renders for the design have an eerie feel to them, and it’s very likely that if the creative team had gone with this rendition for Kro’s final look then it would have left a much bigger impression on audiences and given the film a unique identity that could have helped it stand out.
Compared to his final form, Kro almost seems to be in the wrong film entirely.
The addition of a more skeleton-like look and menacing eyes is embellished even further by horns and gruesome tendrils that lend him a monstrous aura. Kro’s first iteration looks less like an MCU baddie and more like something from an HP Lovecraft horror story, which is entirely fitting for a cosmic being who wields extraordinary power. Compared to his final form, Kro almost seems to be in the wrong film entirely. Rather than doing battle inEternals,he could well have been a better fit in the more horror-themedDoctor Strange And The Multiverse Of Madness.
Was Kro’s Original Character Design Too Much For The MCU?
Playing To The Masses Means Sometimes Creators Have To Tone It Down
It isn’t known exactly why the creative team behindEternalsdecided not to use Kro’s final design, but one possible explanation is that his appearance was too scary for a family-friendly superhero film consistent with the look and feel of the MCU. Kro’s appearance in the early prototype is literally the stuff of nightmares so it would have felt somewhat out of place in a film that placed more emphasis on science fiction and fantastical beings. His final design in the film definitely feels like something that packs a punch without being too over the top.
Eternalsisn’t the only MCU movie in which earlier character designs were jettisoned in favor of something more toned down in the end product.A look at some unused MCU concept artreveals a host of horror-adjacent designs, including a demonic Wanda Maximoff, an extra-disfigured Red Skull and a vision of Gorr The God Butcher so ghoulish that it could have been designed by HR Giger. As with these designs, while they look great as illustrations,bringing them to life onscreen may have been more challenging, thus it was decided to leave them on the drawing board.
Kro’s Final MCU Appearance Makes Sense (But The Unused Design Could’ve Worked Better)
Decisions Over Kro’s Final Look Reveal A Wasted Opportunity
Cool alternate design aside, Kro’s presence inEternalspresents a threat and his character design does makes sense. His look is consistent with the rest of the film, and he manages to be intimidating, but not in a way that could cause issues for younger audience members. At the same time, it’s hard not to feel likehe also represents a wasted opportunity in Phase 4.WithEternalsscore of 44% on Rotten Tomatoes, it remains a divisive film and a scarier Kro could have mitigated this.
The bait-and-switch towardsEternalsclimax makes narrative sense in the context of the film, but there is also a strong case for arguing thatthe twist could have hit much harder if Kro looked like his original horror-inspired design. His horrifying appearance would have given the character a more memorable screen presence so that when he was finally killed, the death would have felt like more of an event. As it is, his first and only appearance inMCU’s Phase 4became a wasted opportunity, that felt like a safer play.
Eternalsmemorably finished on a cliffhanger ending, so there is still potential in continuing the character’s journeys, with an opportunity for a new villain who could unite the powerful team again. There are some significant potentialvillains for a possibleEternalssequelwho could land heavier punches than Kro managed, and the maximalist approach inherent to most sequels could include beefed-up character designs. With that in mind, the team behind a potentialEternalssequel have a real opportunity to outdo Kro.
Eternals
Cast
Eternals, directed by Chloé Zhao, follows a group of ancient aliens who have secretly lived on Earth for thousands of years. The film explores their reunion in the face of an unexpected tragedy and the threat posed by their age-old adversaries, the Deviants. Released in 2021, the film expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
