After recent casting news from Marvel Studios, I think the best place for Josh Brolin to return as Thanos in the MCU would be in Phase 6’s much anticipated Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Thanos was teased for several years as the primary antagonist of the MCU’s Infinity Saga, with brief appearances in The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers: Age of Ultron making his true debut in Avengers: Infinity War even more exciting. Now, I think the Mad Titan has the perfect opportunity to return.
Custom Image by Kai Young
We haven’t seen Thanos in the MCU’s main continuity since 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, which saw Earth’s Mightiest Heroes defeat two different versions of the iconic Marvel villain. However, back in February, Thanos actor Josh Brolin revealed to Comicbook.com that he’d heard “through the grapevine” about Marvel Studios bringing the Mad Titan back into the mix. With no official confirmation, it’s hard to tell how this could happen, but recent casting news makes me think Thanos will have a major role in Phase 6’s Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars.
You know, I hear kind of like through the grapevine, that they’re gonna bring him back. 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.
Thanos Could Return With The Cabal In Avengers: Doomsday & Secret Wars
I imagine directing duo the Russo brothers will try and stay as faithful as possible to Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars stories, as they hold these events in high esteem. This makes me think that Avengers: Doomsday will explore MCU characters’ attempts at stopping incursions from ravaging their world. Doctor Strange may establish an Illuminati team after his experience in Phase 4, while Tenoch Huerta’s antihero Namor could form the Cabal. This means Avengers: Secret Wars could reunite Josh Brolin and Robert Downey Jr., as the latter has officially been cast as the MCU’s Doctor Doom.
After RDJ’s Doctor Doom Casting, I Want To See Thanos’ Iconic Death From Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars
Namor’s Cabal were ultimately left on Earth to die in the unstoppable incursion, but they managed to escape to the Ultimate Marvel Universe and acquire one of Reed Richards’ life-rafts, which safely escorted them to Doctor Doom’s Battleworld. The Cabal threatened the stability of life on Battleworld, so become an immediate target for Doom. This eventually leads to Doctor Doom tearing Thanos’ skeleton from his body in Secret Wars #8, which has since become one of the story’s most memorable and brutal moments.
Robert Downey Jr. has been cast as Doctor Doom ahead of his major role in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. I’m incredibly excited about this casting, though some have expressed concern. Robert Downey Jr.’s casting as Doctor Doom means that, should Josh Brolin return in Doomsday and Secret Wars, this legendary moment from Marvel Comics can be adapted for the MCU. I’d love to see this rematch between Downey Jr. and Brolin’s MCU characters, as they previously fought as Iron Man and Thanos in Infinity War, though this time, Doom would come out on top.
Deadpool & Wolverine Reversed Thanos’ Secret Wars Death, So It Is Possible In The MCU
Some may imagine that watching Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom tear the skeleton from Josh Brolin’s Thanos’ body might be much too graphic for the family-friendly tones of the MCU. However, a similar death has already been seen in the franchise – granted, this was in the R-rated Deadpool & Wolverine. Chris Evans made his triumphant return to the MCU in Deadpool & Wolverine, not as Captain America, but as Johnny Storm’s Human Torch from Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel, but this didn’t end well for the flaming First Family member.
Emma Corrin’s Cassandra Nova ripped the skin off Johnny Storm’s body due to his insubordination in Deadpool & Wolverine, leaving him just a chattering pile of bones and organs. Of course, Deadpool & Wolverine’s R-rating means this works here, but perhaps wouldn’t be seen in the mainstream MCU. However, reversing this by having Doctor Doom remove Thanos’ innards would be a brilliant way to showcase his pure brutality and ego. This might just be wishful thinking on my part, but I would love Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars to explore this incredible Marvel rivalry to its fullest.
