The Russo Brothers Discuss What Thanos Really Did with The Infinity Stones in Avengers: Endgame

The beginning of Avengers: Endgame had revealed that Thanos had used the Infinity Stones one more time to destroy them. While this seems fine for the rest of the story, it's revealed later by the Ancient One that the universe can't exist if the Stones aren't there—that's why Captain America had to return all of them by the end of the movie. With the stones in the main timeline destroyed, how does everything still exist?

As it turns out, Thanos didn't destroy the stones at all. He just made them impossible to obtain. During a recent Q&A (via /Film), the Russo brothers revealed that the Stone still exists in the main timeline. The site writes:

Thanos actually says he reduced the Stones to atoms – which means that the Stones still exist on "an atomic level." You can't touch them, you can't use them, but they're still out there. Somewhere.

I guess that's one plothole out of everyone's mind. Though the movie is fantastic on the surface, delving a bit deeper will lead to a lot of unanswered questions—such as the issue with films involving time travel.

When it comes to the plothole that really bugs me, I guess it's the question of what Captain America does to the Soul Stone. Does he go back to Vandor and try to return it to the Red Skull? Does he get Black Widow back? I don't need it answered in a film, but I would like to know if the Russos and the writers thought of that at all.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see what they say.

Catch Avengers: Endgame now in theaters.

See Also: Joe Russo Explains Why Peter Parker and Ned are Still in High School After Avengers: Endgame