The Secret History of The Black Knight and the Ebony Blade
Kit Harrington joined the cast of Marvel Studios’ Eternals playing the Ebony Blade-wielding Black Knight.
Harrington reunited with Richard Madden who will play the Eternal Ikaris.
This sees a Game of Thrones and House Stark (no not that one) reunion. Dane Whitman has been a complicated character for Marvel Comics over the years.
Read on to find out more about Harrington’s role in Marvel’s Eternals.
The Eternals
The Eternals are a race of beings, created by Jack Kirby, who has been living among humanity and influencing it in secret for over 7 millennia.
They were created by the space gods called the Celestials. You might remember them from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
They reunite once more, to save humanity from their evil counterparts- the Deviants.
With an ensemble cast that has Gemma Chan playing Sersi, Richard Madden as Ikaris, Kit Harrington playing the Black Knight Dane Whitman, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, Barry Keoghan as Druig, Lauren Ridloff as Makkari, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos, Salma Hayek as Ajak, Lia McHugh as Sprite, Don Lee as Gilgamesh and Angelina Jolie as Thena (whew), the film promises to introduce audiences to a whole different side of the MCU come November 6, 2020.
The Black Knight Lineage
Kit Harrington is playing the only Non-Eternal character in the film, that of the Black Knight, Dane Whitman. Whitman has been a member of the Avengers team along with characters like Doctor Druid and the Eternal Sersi, with whom he has had a relationship.
While there has been more than one Black Knight, the three most well-known ones have been Sir Percy of Scandia, Nathan Garrett and Dane Whitman.
Sir Percy fought mystical threats in Arthurian England, with armor and an Ebony blade enchanted by Merlin.
His descendant, Nathan Garett became an evil version of the Black Knight and went down a dark path when he found he was unable to use the blade. He developed hi-tech medieval-style weapons but died in a battle with the Avengers.
On his deathbed, Nathan summoned his nephew, Dane Whitman, and begged him to help him atone for his life of crime.
Dane took up the mantle of a now heroic Black Knight. Dane went on to join the Avengers, even becoming the leader when Captain America was absent.
Sersi and Dane shared a romantic relationship while on the team. She was on the brink of insanity owing to the influence of Proctor, a parallel universe’s Black Knight.
They even traveled to the Ultraverse (another parallel universe), encountered Loki, The Infinity Stones, the heroes of the Malibu Universe, and even fought Apocalypse in the 12th century before losing each other in the timestream.
Talk about a romantic weekend getaway.
Whitman would eventually return to the mainstream Earth-616 where he would join Luke Cage’s Heroes for Hire, MI-13, and Euroforce.
He was last seen lending a hand during the War of the Realms crossover.
Given that the Black Knight and Sersi have history, we might see an on-screen romance between Gemma Chan and Kit Harrington.
Given that the Black Knight has many iterations, Harrington may end up playing one of his old ancestors wielding the Ebony Blade in the past as well.
The Ebony Blade
The fabled ebony blade has a long and fascinating history in the Marvel Universe.
Merlin himself forged it out of a Starstone meteorite. He enchanted it to ensure its user would not die or be injured in battle.
The blade is also cursed, driving its users to madness due to all of the blood spilled.
The sword has seen many owners and has been stolen from the Black Knight’s grip many times.
It eventually landed in the hands of Augustine Du Loc, a successor of Launcelot (yes that one) who used to attack Wakanda. Black Panther would then pass it on to Storm who would return it to Dane Whitman.
Powers and Abilities
The blade offers its users protection against death and injury but is cursed is fall into madness.
The blade can cut through virtually anything, even apparently Adamantium but it all depends on the will of the user.
It is a most sought-after weapon by both heroes and villains and could be up there with mystical weapons like Mjolnir and Stormbreaker in the MCU.
What to Expect from Marvel Studios’ Eternals
Gemma Chan who plays Sersi will form a romantic relationship with Whitman.
Given that the subplot involving the evil, parallel version of the Black Knight, Proctor is integral to their romance, the film may end up doing things differently.
Richard Madden who plays Ikaris, like in the comics, could end up bonding the two of them in a telepathic bond called the Gonn-Jasin.
Ikaris who is overprotective of Sersi might even lock horns with Dane Whitman. Harrington may also feature in the MCU’s long term plans as the studio might be looking at crafting a whole new Avengers team.
Given that Sersi and Whitman were both members, they may be looking at multiple appearances.
Audiences might end up seeing a Stark vs. Stark (no not that one) on-screen come November.
With an ensemble cast, Bollywood dancing, and Manga in the mix, Eternals does look like something audiences will enjoy.
