Part 6/10:
Sources suggest Disney's internal strategy may have contributed to the film's tepid reception. There was significant concern about Eternals being too "art-house" or divergent from the usual Marvel tone, which may have alienated core fans. The choice of director Chloe Zhao—known for award-winning independent films—was seen as an attempt to elevate the film's prestige, but perhaps it was a misfit for a high-budget superhero blockbuster.