Elizabeth Olsen Faces Afterlife Dilemma in Eternity

Elizabeth Olsen has become something of an expert at portraying women grappling with loss in extraordinary circumstances. In her latest film, Eternity, she steps into the shoes of Joan, a woman confronted with a life-altering decision beyond the grave. While Olsen has previously explored similar territory—most notably as the bereaved Scarlet Witch—she insists that any parallels between her roles are purely coincidental.

During a recent conversation in London, Olsen reflected on her approach to choosing projects.

"I also don't even mean to pick projects that are about grief, and I did all of them for different reasons,"

she remarked, noting that her choices are often shaped by the people involved rather than recurring themes.

Choosing Projects and Exploring Grief

Olsen referenced her work on His Three Daughters, a 2024 Netflix drama centred on three sisters reuniting as their father nears the end of his life. The film, directed by her friend Azazel Jacobs, was, as she explained, a deeply personal project for him.

"He was kind of trying to prepare himself for his parents' passing, because they were getting quite old, and it was almost like an emotional preparation for him, and I loved getting to work on that with him, with Natasha [Lyonne] and Carrie [Coon],"

Olsen shared. She contrasted this with Eternity, which, in her view, is less about mourning and more about what comes after.

In the world of Eternity, death is not the end. Instead, the recently departed are given a week to decide where they wish to spend the afterlife, with no chance to change their minds once the choice is made. For Joan, this means facing not only her husband Larry, played by Miles Teller, but also Luke, her first love, portrayed by Callum Turner, who died young during the Korean War. The presence of both men forces Joan to confront old wounds and consider what might have been.

Love, Loss, and the Afterlife

The film’s premise raises profound questions about love and loyalty. Joan’s dilemma is not simply about choosing a place, but about deciding with whom she wants to spend eternity. Teller, who stars alongside Olsen, observed,

"There's such an emphasis on, 'Where do you want to go, which eternity do you want to choose?' And at the end, really, it's about, 'But who do you want to spend it with?' And I think that's beautiful."

Olsen’s portrayal of Joan is both understated and deeply moving, capturing the complexity of a woman torn between her past and present. The film gently probes the nature of grief, the endurance of love, and the choices that define us, all within the framework of a romantic comedy.

Release Dates and What’s Next

Eternity is currently screening in the United States and will arrive in UK cinemas on 5 December. Audiences can look forward to a thoughtful, gently humorous exploration of life after loss, anchored by Olsen’s nuanced performance. For those eager for more, a host of new films are set to hit screens in 2025 and beyond.