Actor and comedian Kumail Nanjiani, best known for his role as Kingo in Marvel’s 2021 film Eternals, has spoken candidly about how the film’s poor reception deeply affected his mental health and career expectations.
In a revealing conversation on the podcast Working It Out with Mike Birbiglia, Nanjiani shared that he had signed an ambitious six-film deal with Marvel Studios. Along with multiple movies, the contract even included plans for a video game and a theme park ride. At the time, the actor believed he was set for a decade-long journey within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). But the reality was starkly different.
“I was like, ‘This is going to be my job for the next 10 years.’ … And then none of that happened,” Nanjiani admitted.
The Fallout of Eternals
Released in November 2021, Eternals carried a massive $200 million budget but grossed just $402 million globally. The film received mixed-to-negative reviews, with many critics calling it one of Marvel’s weakest outings. For an actor who had transformed his body and career trajectory for the role, the outcome was devastating.
- Eternals grossed $402 million worldwide against expectations of being a major blockbuster.
- Nanjiani’s Kingo, along with other characters from the film, has not appeared in any live-action Marvel project since.
- The actor confessed the reception “shattered” him and pushed him to seek therapy.
A Personal and Professional Reckoning
Nanjiani revealed that the long wait during the pandemic made the disappointment sting even more.
“It came out right after COVID, so I had a year and a half at home thinking, ‘Oh, when this thing comes out!’ But then it came out and it got really bad reviews… it shattered me too much,” he said.
The actor also used this experience as a turning point in his life. He admitted that he realized how much of his self-worth was tied to public perception. Therapy helped him untangle that unhealthy connection.
Marvel’s Silence and the Bigger Picture
While Marvel moves ahead with Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027), there is still no word on whether the Eternals cast will return. The absence is telling—suggesting that Marvel itself may have quietly sidelined the franchise.
Hollywood insiders argue that Eternals exposed Marvel’s vulnerability at a time when superhero fatigue was setting in. For Kumail, however, the issue went beyond box office numbers—it became about identity, validation, and survival in an industry that can build and break stars overnight.
A Brutal Reminder for Hollywood
Nanjiani’s honesty gives fans a raw glimpse into the pressures of Hollywood stardom. For all the red carpets and multimillion-dollar contracts, the industry’s brutality remains unmatched—especially when a billion-dollar studio decides to move on without you.
The actor now plans to channel this story into his upcoming stand-up special on Hulu later this year, ensuring that his setback becomes not just a personal reckoning, but also material that resonates with audiences worldwide.
“Other people have way bigger problems than this,” Nanjiani added humbly—but for Marvel fans, his confession is both shocking and painfully relatable.
By – Nikita