Kumail Nanjiani is set to join Marvel’s The Eternals

Marvel’s The Eternals seems to have found another cast member in the form of  comedic actor Kumail Nanjiani.

The Eternals is finally starting to add cast members, as the film is set to begin production in Atlanta this summer. Angelina Jolie has been the only known actor attached to the project, but it has now added a familiar (and unexpected) name.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, actor and comedian Kumail Nanjiani will join Jolie in The Eternals. In typical Marvel fashion, no details were revealed regarding his role, and neither the studio nor Nanjiani’s reps have commented on the casting. Nanjiani and Jolie, who is reportedly playing Sersi, will star in the Chloé Zhao-directed superhero flick, which was penned by Matthew and Ryan Firpo.

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Nanjiani may not be the first name that comes to mind when one thinks about a superhero movie, but it’s easy to see why Marvel Studios would want him. Within the past few years, the comedian has risen to stardom through his role in HBO’s Silicon Valley, and has since emerged as a movie star. He even wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed romantic comedy, The Big Sick, which is loosely based on the courtship of he and his wife.

With so many characters in Eternals comics, it’s hard to predict who the actor may end up playing. Due to his comedic roots, he could serve as a comic relief, but on the other hand, he could seek to flex his acting chops with a more serious role. Or his role could be a combination of both attributes.

One potential role for him would be the character of Starfox. In the comics, he is the Titan-born, younger brother of Thanos. But unlike his brother, he’s a funny and carefree being, who’s also a bit of a womanizer. In terms of his abilities, he can stimulate the pleasure centers in the brain. This allows him to change someone’s mood or make them open to suggestion. Nanjiani could have fun with this role.

The sky’s the limit when it comes to Marvel’s options for him, and with The Eternals close to starting production, his role will be revealed soon enough.