Director Chloé Zhao went all-in with the DC Comics references in Eternals with some friendly acknowledgments of major superhero characters. Set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the characters in Eternals are obviously not from the same world as Batman and Superman. However, it’s now very clear that comics or movies featuring the famous DC superheroes are present in the MCU thanks to the references in Eternals.

At one point in the movie, young Jack (Esai Daniel Cross) sees Ikaris (Richard Madden) and notices the similarities he has with the Man of Steel. Excited, the boy exclaims, “Dad! That’s Superman.” Ikaris then points out one major difference by responding, “I don’t wear a cape.” Another scene featured Ringo (Kumail Nanjiani) introducing his assistant as someone “like Alfred,” referring to Batman’s loyal butler.

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Speaking with Empire, Zhao shed some more light on the decision to acknowledge the DC Universe in Eternals. The director felt it necessary to address the “elephant in the room,” as people were going to be making the Superman comparisons to Ikaris regardless. And while the Man of Steel is already in the conversation, it wasn’t so hard to go to other references from there, such as name-dropping Alfred. As it turns out, there’s another DC reference that’s yet to be seen in a deleted scene.

Chloé Zhao directed Eternals using a script co-written with Patrick Burleigh, Ryan Firpo, and Kaz Firpo. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Ridloff, Barry Keoghan, Don Lee, Harish Patel, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, and Angelina Jolie. Harry Styles also joined the MCU during a mid-credit scene after the film. This was also touched in in Zhao’s new interview as a casting that could only happen if Styles was on board.

“For me, the backstory of Eros is that he deserted, he said, ‘I’m not doing this anymore.’ So he somehow got that sphere, which you saw in his hand, and he ran off and made Pip the troll, Zhao says. “They’re like Han Solo and Chewie. Arishem’s been looking for him, and he’s just been a space outlaw. That’s the character I had in my mind. But I never said once to Kevin, ‘Here’s the character. Let’s find an actor.’ For me, it was a package deal. It’s got to be Harry. That’s how I pitched it to Kevin.”

Eternals starts streaming for Disney+ subscribers on Jan. 12, 2022.