Dane Whitman's Secret Family History Explained (2024)

Who is Dane Whitman in Marvel's Eternals and what is his secret family history? Played by Kit Harington, Dane Whitman is featured as the mortal human love interest for the Eternal Sersi, though he's also the hero known as the Black Knight in Marvel Comics. While it seems as though Dane has yet to come into his own as the Black Knight of Marvel Comics origin in Eternals, there are a handful of teases and hints throughout the film that set up his future debut as the wielder of the Ebony Blade, including Dane's allusion to his family secret history near the film's end.

In Eternals, Dane Whitman is featured as a co-worker of Sersi's (Gemma Chan). He's also her current boyfriend, but he is largely sidelined from the action. It's notable that the moments where Dane is featured are mainly focused on his family. Not only does Sersi gift him with a ring of his family crest for his birthday, but she encourages Dane to make amends with his uncle when things start to look bleak. Furthermore, after Sersi and the rest of the Eternals manage to save the world in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Dane Whitman alludes to the secrets of his family lineage once they're reunited.

Related: Everything We Know About Eternals 2

Who Is Dane Whitman? Marvel Comics’ Black Knight Explained

In Marvel Comics, Dane Whitman is the Black Knight and the wielder of the Ebony Blade. A cursed sword crafted by the Arthurian wizard Merlin, the Ebony Blade is essentially the moral opposite of Thor's hammer Mjolnir as it "lightens only in shadow," meaning that it responds to the darkness within its wielder's own heart. As such, its dark power motivates a powerful bloodlust and berserker rage Whitman hasn't always been able to control in the pages of Marvel Comics. That being said, he has been a member of the Avengers and even had a brief stint leading the team before they parted ways.

Just like in the MCU, Dane Whitman also had a romantic relationship with Sersi in the comics. He even became her "Gann Josin" where they were physically linked as means to help her stay anchored during the stresses of the Mahd Wy'ry, an Eternal mental illness that can occur due to their long lifespans. However, Dane and Sersi eventually drifted apart.

Dane's Black Knight recently fought in the Phoenix Tournament in the pages of Marvel Comics, and he also helped fight the King in Black during his invasion of Earth. However, Dane Whitman also discovered new truths about his family lineage and the secret history of the Black Knight, the same secret history Kit Harrington's Dane seemingly alludes to at the end of Eternals.

Dane Whitman’s Family Lineage and Secret History Explained

At the end of Marvel's Eternals, Dane attempts to confess the secrets of his family that he's yet to share with Sersi. However, before he can, Sersi's taken by the Prime Celestial Arishem in order to determine how Earth shall be judged seeing as how the Eternals defied the MCU Celestials' directives. However, Dane was likely about to reveal the hidden past of his family, which is descended from King Arthur himself, as well as their role as the Black Knight and the dark, bloody history that comes with it.

Previously, it was believed that Dane was the third Black Knight. Dane Whitman's family members were other Black Knights. While the first was Sir Percy of Scandia who served King Arthur himself (doing his dirty work so Arthur and Camelot could remain pure), the second was Dane's uncle Nathan Garrett who chose to give in to the corruption of the Ebony Blade and used its power for evil.

However, new truths have emerged in 2021's Curse of the Ebony Blade miniseries from writer Si Spurrier and Sergio Davila, revealing that the Ebony Blade has exchanged hands with multiple descendants of Sir Percy's bloodline, all of whom had darkness within their hearts which the Ebony Blade took advantage of despite their best intentions. Dane has also learned that so long as he's holding the Blade when he's killed, he'll be resurrected (as would any wielder belonging to the powerful bloodline).

Dane Whitman Will Become The MCU’s Next Black Knight

Now, it looks as though the MCU's Dane Whitman is ready to wield the Ebony Blade himself as the next Black Knight. In the final post-credits scene for Eternals, he is seen struggling with the decision to open a long box with the Whitman family crest printed on the outside. When he finally does, it's revealed that he's come into possession of the Ebony Blade whose corruptive power already seems drawn to Dane himself. However, an off-screen voice in Eternals' credits scene (Mahershala Ali's Blade) stops him from fully handling the sword, questioning if he's truly ready.

RELATED: Why Blade Warns Dane Whitman About The Ebony Blade

Being the next in Sir Percy and Arthur's bloodline, Dane Whitman is the next successor to inherit the power of the Ebony Blade, though the cost is quite heavy. The more the Ebony Blade is used, the more its curse will take effect, which will make Dane darker with a rage-filled bloodlust just as it did to his ancestors throughout time (hence the inscription on the box that reads "death is his reward").

Will Dane Whitman's Black Knight be the one to break the loop of his family's dark secret history? While Kit Harington's next appearance in the MCU as Dane Whitman is yet unknown, Black Knight will likely be featured sooner rather than later after all of this setup featured in Marvel's Eternals movie, seemingly to be a new hero (as best he can).

Which MCU Projects Could Dane Whitman's Black Knight Appear In Next?

As for where Dane Whitman/Black Knight could appear next in the MCU, the possibilities are virtually endless given Marvel's penchant for often loosely-related post-credit scenes. There was speculation about Whitman featuring in Doctor Strange 2 or Thor: Love and Thunder's credits, since Black Knight, Doctor Strange, Valkyrie, and Hulk are all Defenders teammates in the Marvel comics.

Moon Knight was another potential tie-in given the thematic parallels between Whitman and Specter and the fact that they could have easily interacted in London's museums. None of these projects actually ended up featuring Kit Harington's MCU return as Black Knight, but there are still plenty of opportunities, most probably in the upcoming Blade movie starring Mahershala Ali.

After all, it's Blade's voice that can be heard over the post-credits scene that introduced the Ebony Blade, and considering his position as a master swordsman, he'll likely be very interested in what both the Ebony Blade and Whitman's Black Knight have to offer. The Disney+ series Secret Invasion is another strong possibility since Black Knight joined MI-13 during that storyline in the comics to help fight off the Skrulls. Regardless of where he turns up next, Eternals introduced a fascinating character in Dane Whitman that the MCU will surely want to use to their fullest capacity.

RELATED: Everything We Know About The MCU's Blade Reboot

Kit Harington Doesn’t Know When Dane Returns

Fans waiting for more of Dane Whitman’s family history in the MCU have that wait in common with actor Kit Harington. In a 2022 interview, Harrington revealed he didn’t know anything about Dane Whitman’s MCU future. He was being kept in the dark about just when the character would appear in the MCU again after The Eternals. In fact, he told reporters he was “waiting for a call” about his next MCU project, whatever that project may be. There haven’t been any updates from the actor on his next MCU project since.

Rumors indicated that Harington would be in the MCU’s Blade reboot, but new rumors about the script being retooled again indicate that Dane Whitman was cut from Blade entirely, despite the Eternals tease. Blade has faced several setbacks behind-the-scenes since it was initially announced. Until Marvel Studios makes an official announcement regarding Dane Whitman, however, it’s likely that both Harrington and MCU fans will remain in the dark.