Kumail Nanjiani said he expected a decade of Marvel work after signing on to play Kingo in 2021’s Eternals, revealing he agreed to a six-film deal that also tied him to a video game and a theme-park attraction. “I was like, this is going to be my job for the next 10 years… and then none of that happened,” he said in a recent appearance on Mike Birbiglia’s Working It Out, remarks that were highlighted in trade coverage over the weekend.
Nanjiani’s comments arrive amid a recalibration at the studio. Marvel’s chief has said there are “no immediate plans” for an Eternals sequel, even as other projects nod to the film’s unresolved plot points. The studio has also been paring back its overall output to fewer films and series each year, part of a broader shift toward tighter slates.
Eternals earned about $402 million worldwide in late 2021 after opening during the pandemic and drew a mixed critical response, factors that complicated momentum for follow-ups or crossovers featuring the ensemble. Nanjiani has not reprised Kingo on screen since the film’s release.
Industry lawyers and executives note that multi-picture agreements are typically option-based, giving studios flexibility to exercise appearances without guaranteeing that all installments occur. In recent years, Marvel has also signaled a move away from locking newcomers into the long “mega-deals” that characterized the franchise’s early growth, further reducing the likelihood that every optioned role translates into multiple outings.
Nanjiani has previously described the fallout from Eternals as emotionally taxing, saying he sought therapy after the film’s reception and the pressure of its rollout. On the podcast, he framed his experience with wry detachment while acknowledging the scale of expectations that came with the role and the contract.
