The Marvel Cinematic Universe has numerous powerful villains, but there's no one more unforgettable than the Mad Titan Thanos, played by critically-acclaimed actor Josh Brolin.
Thanos made his debut in 2012's The Avengers in a post-credits scene, following another post-credits cameo in Avengers: Age of Ultron and Guardians of the Galaxy. Amazingly, Thanos was finally unleashed as the spine-chilling villain for Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, culminating the decade-long run of the Infinity Saga.
Despite playing a villain role, fans absolutely loved Josh Brolin's menacing portrayal of the Mad Titan. Sadly, it looks like we won't see more of him after the fan-beloved Iron Man sacrificed himself to reverse The Snap and officially defeated Thanos.
However, Marvel Comics legend Jim Starlin – who created Thanos in the '70s, believes that the villain could still make a comeback in the MCU. Speaking to Inverse, Starlin revealed his hopes about the Mad Titan's return:
“Well, I think he probably hits a nerve. He raises questions that a number of us have thought about. He's also just a badass character. I don't think anybody thinks we've seen the last of him. Disney made a shitload of money off of him and there's probably a shitload of money still to be made. So my fingers are crossed.“
The writer and artist also believe that the impending Multiverse Saga could pave the way for Thanos' return:
“I've heard Marvel may want to use some other characters I've done. I think they're running out. Now that they've got this multiverse, there's the possibility of bringing back Thanos. And with Thanos, that opens up possibilities for other characters. There are a few that they haven't used, like the Blood Brothers.”
Starlin was also asked about the Mad Titan's brother Eros (Harry Styles), who made his debut in Eternals, and whether he could work without his brother Thanos:
"I think they're planning on starting him off without Thanos. Thanos and Warlock also have a lot in common and have an association, and they got a fairly good star for Adam Warlock. I doubt if he's going to be in just this one movie."
There's no denying that fans would undoubtedly love to see more of the villain in the future of the MCU, and with the Multiverse as the core plot of Phases 4, 5, and 6, this effortlessly makes Thanos' return an open possibility.
But if the Mad Titan would indeed return, Tony Stark's sacrifice to vanquish the villain in Endgame would be a total waste, if we would just see him return in the subsequent MCU Phases.
Marvel Studios has also confirmed that Jonathan Majors' Kang The Conqueror is the next Thanos-level threat for Phase 5, which makes Thanos' return seemingly more unlikely. If the studio decides to bring back Josh Brolin in the role again, they should limit his role to less prominent or just in a flashback sequence, just like what they did in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Speaking of Thanos, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame are available to stream on Disney+.
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!