Thanos first showed up in “The Avengers,” played initially by Damion Poitier and then by Josh Brolin, who made him the main villain in the Infinity Saga. Brolin’s portrayal was widely praised, and his character was ultimately defeated by Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man, who sacrificed himself in the process.
However, with the recent firing of Jonathan Majors from Marvel Studios, there’s uncertainty about the main villain for “Avengers: Secret Wars,” leading to speculation about Thanos’ return.
Will Josh Brolin Return As Thanos?
In the MCU‘s Multiverse Saga, anything is possible. In the comics, Thanos has several variants, including King Thanos from his solo series and the Cosmic Ghost Rider storylines. With the future of Jonathan Majors’ Kang in doubt after his departure from Marvel Studios, the search for the MCU’s next major villain continues.
Introducing King Thanos in “Avengers: Secret Wars” could be a strategic move, as it wouldn’t necessarily mean reviving the character from the dead—especially considering Hugh Jackman’s upcoming appearance in the highly anticipated “Deadpool & Wolverine” despite his character’s death in “Logan.
While it’s unlikely Thanos will be the primary antagonist again, Josh Brolin’s portrayal might still feature among a cadre of villains. Brolin himself has hinted at a possible return.
“You know, I hear kind of like through the grapevine, that they’re gonna bring him back,” Brolin told ComicBook.com. And there’s the ‘What If…?‘ series and that’s a different kind of Thanos and all that. But I don’t know in the Marvel world whether they’re going to bring him back, but I didn’t know that he was the most killed-off Marvel villain… You learn something new every day.”
Given the success of “Spider-Man: No Way Home” in bringing multiversal characters like Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Men, along with iconic villains, back to the screen, the idea of reintroducing Thanos is not far-fetched. It could be another way for Marvel to leverage one of its most iconic characters.
Who is King Thanos?
King Thanos from Earth-TRN666 is a more powerful version of the Mad Titan, known for his connection to Death. Driven to please Death, he wiped out almost every living creature in the galaxy. Using the Time Stone, he brought a younger version of himself to the future, leading to a battle between the two. The fight ended when the younger Thanos, disgusted with what he saw, returned to his own timeline after his future self begged to be killed.
With the original Thanos gone after “Avengers: Endgame,” it would be interesting to see how King Thanos could fit into the Avengers story. His return could make the upcoming Multiverse saga even more intense, especially if he confronts the Avengers during his quests. If King Thanos returns, “Avengers: Secret Wars” promises to be a chaotic and exciting chapter.
“Avengers: Secret Wars” is scheduled for release on May 7, 2027.
