How Elizabeth Olsen Got Her Groove Back with ‘Eternity’
In Hollywood, it’s normal for a superhero role to descend into typecasting or a be followed by a scramble to be taken seriously again. Elizabeth Olsen’s connection to Scarlet Witch has made her a household name but her latest turn in Eternity – shows Olsen’s versatility, able to switch from sci-fi fantasy to a romantic comedy about the afterlife.
Her new film, Eternity, finds her both star and producer, a “romcom” set in the afterlife where she plays Joan, a woman who must choose between her devoted husband and her dashing first love who died in war. The high-concept has appeal, armed with screwball wit and starring opposite Miles Teller and Callum Turner.
In a recent interview on the Wild Card podcast, Olsen said “I have spent so many years doing Marvel that I feel like all the other jobs I have to do have to really reflect my personal taste”. This comment expresses her desire to reclaim her artistic identity as an actor, which is just what she’s been doing in recent years.
The first outing came the HBO miniseries Love & Death, where she upended her wholesome image with a chilling portrayal of axe murderer, Candy Montgomery. Then came His Three Daughters, a claustrophobic chamber drama that recalls her role as the indie star of Martha Marcy May Marlene. Most recently, the critically-acclaimed dystopian sci-fi thriller The Assessment saw her opposite Alicia Vikander in a role of raw, uncomfortable tension.
Her recent venture in Eternity is the cherry on top of this post-Avengers trip. Being a producer, Olsen was instrumental in shaping the film’s unique identity – a “bizarre love triangle” and was adamant on one thing: a guaranteed theatrical release. Wanting to cultivate the cinema-going community experience, this request became is now a reality with the film set to release soon.
This step underscores her own career, much like her character who has 7 days to decide where to spend forever. She’s championing these kinds of mid-budget, adult-orientated films behind A24 to use her name’s superpower to punt witty screwball romance, Eternity, and by extension, other films like it. The quirky tone requires a balance between existential dread and the lightheartedness of a 1960s travelogue.
As audiences watch Joan choose between two heavens, they are also witnessing an actor turned producer who has already chosen hers. Elizabeth Olsen isn’t just waiting for the next phone call from Kevin Feige – she’s too busy building her own world, one independent production at a time.
