Josh Brolin, who played Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, really thinks that the big bad could return in Avengers 5 (and more if you like).
“What sleeps forever is not dead. And throughout the centuries even death can die, said HP Lovecraft in The Call of Cthulhu. And that’s a bit of the impression we sometimes get when we look at the MCU. It is not Robert Downey Jr who will contradict us, since his return to the Marvel universe for Avengers : Doomsday et Avengers : Secret Wars was one of the big attractions this year. The interpreter of Iron Man will return to service in the role of Doomsday, the new big bad of the universe.
The return of Robert Downey Jr. cost Marvel an arm and a leg, but it’s a very nice promotional stunt. And the idea could inspire others, especially thanks to the possibilities of the Multiverse. This is perhaps the case with Josh Brolin, who played Thanos three times on screen, and who said the Purple Giant might reappear in the future. In any case, he’s up for it, in theory.
In the flesh and in Thanos
In an article published on October 29, 2024, the site Collider Josh Brolin reported. The actor recalled that he really enjoyed playing Thanos, and that reprising this role would be a pleasure for him, provided that his return was justified.
He takes for comparison the return of the character of Matt Graver, whom he had played in the Sicario by Denis Villeneuve, and in its sequel Sicario: The Cartel War. Compare Avengers et Sicariothat’s quite a balancing act.
“I’m not joking. There’s something special about playing Thanos. It’s not enough to say, “Oh, they’re going to bring Thanos back.” It’s like Sicario, it has to be done well. It’s like Ryan Reynolds and I were talking about Taylor Swift when we should be talking about Deadpool 4. (…). Once again, it’s his view of things, it’s my view of things. Thanos has to find his place if you want to bring him back. I would do whatever the Russos wanted me to do. »
Avengers + Thanos = heart with hands
If the actor’s last sentence sounds almost like a plea addressed to the Russo brothers, and could therefore be proof that Josh Brolin was not contacted by the directors to reprise his role, we will still remain very suspicious. This would not be the first time that an actor has declared that he does not appear in a particular MCU film, only to be there in the end (hello Andrew Garfield and
Tobey Maguire pour Spider-Man : No Way Home).
With the whole multiversal mess of the MCU, it’s totally possible that an alternate version of Thanos arrives in the middle ofAvengers 5 or 6, to settle scores with the gang of heroes hanging around on screen; or even to ally with them to fight against an even greater threat.
Especially since in Marvel comics, Thanos has already teamed up with the Avengers on several occasions, in particular to fight against Magus Adam Warlock.
Still in the comics, during the arc The Thanos Imperativethe Titan returns from the dead, this time as a pseudo anti-hero entirely devoted to the fight for the survival of his universe, threatened by a « cancerverse » which annihilates all forms of life. Marvel Studios therefore spoiled for choice to bring back Thanos if they felt like it.
To find out if Josh Brolin’s statements were just a very sad call-out, or if it was all a well-organized publicity stunt, we will have to wait, at least, until 2026. The release date ofAvengers : Doomsday is scheduled for April 29, 2026 in French cinemas. As for Avengers : Secret Warsits release is scheduled for May 5, 2027.
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