No need to be alarmed, exhibitionists: After a busy box office in October, more big-budget releases are on the way in November. Disney/Eternals, Marvel's which opens on November 5th, has already had strong advance sales, according to Deadline.

According to industry insiders, advance sales for Chloé Zhao's film, which won an Oscar for best director, have surpassed Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings ($1.4M) by 86% and have surpassed Black Widow ($2M) by 30% in the first 24 hours.

AMC, the year's top exhibitor, saw its biggest day-one sales yet with Eternals. Tickets for Eternals went on sale to the public on Monday. There's nothing better than having some history while playing eternal partners who've been together for 7,000 years and yet maintain an on-and-off romance.

Gemma Chan and Richard Madden play Sersi and Ikaris, respectively, in Marvel's Eternals, an ambitious epic directed by Nomadland filmmaker Chloé Zhao, who won an Oscar for her work on the film. An ensemble cast led by Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Ridloff and Barry Keoghan, as well as actors like Barry Keoghan and Don Lee and actress Angelina Jolie star in the sci-fi picture, which opens in theaters on November 5. The film is anchored by the sweet love story of Sersi and Ikaris, which takes place from the present day in London all the way back to the time of their first appearance on the planet, about 5,000 B.C.

We spoke with Madden, 35, and Chan, 38, for EW's Fall Movie Preview about how they brought their enduring love story to life on screen.
CONSUMER TECHNOLOGY REVIEW: How did the two of you first meet?

GEMMA CHAN: Socially, I believe.

RICHARD MADDEN: Due to the fact that we share a large number of acquaintances.

CHAN: In London, everyone knows everyone.

We just ended up spending a lot of time together, for some reason. I believe that the fact that we both lost our employment at the same time aided our recovery. [Laughs] And work was never a topic of conversation!

CHAN: That's not right!

Consequently, it's kind of amusing that we ended up working together when we'd never met in the profession or even talked about work. MADDEN:
What were your feelings when you found out you were both going to be in Eternals?

MADDEN: I'm absolutely ecstatic. In other words, we've known one other for over a decade, so it's much simpler to see someone at 4 in the morning every day if you enjoy seeing them. There is already confidence and rapport between us due to our long-term friendship. We're adept at finding ways to irritate one another. We have a good sense of humor. Because we both desired to bring out the best in the other, the process was organic rather than being imposed upon us when we met for the first time.

Gemma, in 2019's Captain Marvel, you appeared as Minn-Erva, a member of the MCU. Your reaction to being asked to return for Eternals was what?

Ms. CHAN: I was surprised that you called me back so quickly. At first, I assumed [Marvel Studios President] Kevin Feige was simply being kind when he said, "We would love to have you back." [Laughs] If at all. In the far future, at the very least. However, it was a welcome one. And getting to work with someone like this was a real delight. That was an offer I couldn't refuse, of course.
What first drew you in to this ages-spanning saga?

When you're dealing with a character who is thousands of years old, what is it in them that makes them desire to keep living? MADDEN: That was the appeal for me. Are they happy because of anything in the environment or something inside of them?

CHAN: I was also looking forward to playing a superhero I had never seen before. Free-spirited is an apt description of her character. She isn't your ordinary superhero warrior-fighter. This mix of individuals also piqued my curiosity because I was curious to see how they would function as a bit dysfunctional family when brought together.

Richard Harington's brother Kit Harington, who starred in the HBO series Game of Thrones, is featured in the film Eternals. Do you remember how you felt about the get-together?

MADDEN: That's fantastic. I mean, Kit and I have been friends for a long time, and we don't get to do anything together in the picture. In the meantime, I'll enjoy the opportunity to say hello to him on set for the first time. While working on set, it was like hanging out with your buddies and then being told, "Oh yeah? Now we've got to act?" Okay.
What was the most difficult aspect of portraying these supposedly invincible warriors for each of you?

CHAN: It was finding moments of truth in the chaos of a large production, with everything that's going on and the difficulties of filming on location, that was the most difficult for me. When you find a quiet place to be silent, or even simply have an intimate, little moment with yourself, it helps to center and anchor you.

Madden: That's what I'd say, as well. Among the laser eyes, monsters, and being hurled into rocks and upside down, finding these moments of reality is a challenge. This cast is made up of superheroes, but they're also human beings with deeply felt emotions and long-term relationships. While dressing up as superheroes and jumping from cliffs, we searched for the truth and honesty during those times.

How long did it take for you to become a superhero?

EXCLUSIVE: [To Madden] You've got a lot on your plate.

MADDEN: I'm on wires all over the place because I fly in the movie all the time. Just pretending to be effortless while wearing a corset harness with your legs up here and your blood pumping to your head is quite difficult. You have to swan in as if you're cool while screaming on the inside. With the support of a buddy who can remark things like: "Hey, does this look stupid?" People will comment on how much you resemble Peter Pan.

Having someone tell you where you stand on the dumb-to-cool spectrum is beneficial.

MADDEN: Gemma has a knack for pointing out when you're being a dummy.

I'll do the same for you! CHAN:

However, she always manages to appear sharp, so that part is simple. [Laughs]