When the Marvel Cinematic Universe first started, the spotlight shone exclusively on the heroes we know and love, which unfortunately meant the villains got the short end of the stick. It was common to hear that the bad guys were little more than an evil copy of the protagonist, except without any of the charm or relatable motivations. Characters like Whiplash, Malekith, Laufey, and many more were introduced only to be instantly forgotten by audiences worldwide. Fortunately, things changed for the better over time.
While not every MCU villain has proven to be a hit over the last few years, many of them have earned a place in fans' hearts. The Kingpin and Bullseye are still as merciless now as they were in the Daredevil Netflix adaptation, the High Evolutionary was a worthy (and very hateable) antagonist to the Guardians of the Galaxy, and the Green Goblin was as scary as when he first made his debut in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man movies. However, there's no better example of a villain done right than the Mad Titan himself.
Thanos is perhaps the best MCU villain created to date, and with good reason. Back during the Infinity Saga, it was evident that all roads would lead to him, and the wait was certainly worth it. Unfortunately, he was taken out of the picture for good a bit too soon, as is the case with many antagonists. On the bright side, not only could a comeback be on the cards, but it might happen sooner than anybody anticipated.
Josh Brolin teases potential return as Thanos in an upcoming Avengers movie
Dread it. Run from it. Destiny still arrives all the same. During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, iconic star Josh Brolin was asked whether he'd reprise his role as Thanos in the MCU, and not only did he confirm that he'd be back in a heartbeat, but he also suggested his return is already a reality:
"If [Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars co-director] Joe Russo comes to me, which he may have, I don’t know, and has an idea, then I might acquiesce. Probably pretty quickly."
Interestingly enough, this isn't the first time we've heard about Thanos appearing in an upcoming Avengers movie. Back in February 2025, it was reported that Marvel had plans for previous MCU villains to appear in Battleworld during the events of Avengers: Secret Wars. Wouldn't you know it, but a multiversal variant of the Mad Titan was revealed to be one of them. To take things a step further, Disney could've indirectly confirmed the rumor while simultaneously giving us a glimpse at the iconic villain back in action.
During a Merchandise Expo in Shanghai, China, a light show not only unveiled Doctor Doom's design in the upcoming Avengers movies, but also showcased him fighting Thanos in what seems to be a recreation of that iconic comic panel where the Mad Titan gets his spine ripped off in a single move. Needless to say, all evidence would suggest that Josh Brolin's time in the MCU is far from over.
One of the biggest perks of the Multiverse Saga is watching the reappearance of many characters we thought to be dead in the form of variants from alternate realities. If done correctly, these shocking comebacks can elevate a project to a whole new level, as was the case with Spider-Man: No Way Home. Furthermore, it's clear that Marvel plans to double down on this strategy as the X-Men from the Fox era will have a major role in Avengers: Doomsday. With that in mind, the idea of watching Thanos once again doesn't seem too far-fetched.
Unfortunately, Marvel hasn't had the chance to properly define Doctor Doom as a character, nor his motivations. A last-minute change in plans meant that the entirety of Kang's arc and story in the MCU would be thrown away in favor of the evil sorcerer's debut, with the huge downside that there wasn't nearly as much time to set him up. That's why every single opportunity to position the Ruler of Latveria as a force to be reckoned with is certainly welcome, and, fortunately, there's an easy way to achieve that.
If audiences worldwide were to watch a character they already know and fear—such as Thanos—be effortlessly killed by Doom, then it would be clear who the bigger threat is. After all, this strategy would mimic the Mad Titan's introduction in Avengers: Infinity War, where he single-handedly defeated the Hulk in a heartbeat. As simple as that, we'd all understand that Earth's Mightiest Heroes will have their work cut out for them.
Maybe history will surprise us by introducing a new version of Thanos even sooner than anticipated during the events of Avengers: Doomsday. But, for the time being, it looks like Secret Wars will be the place where we'll finally get to see more of Marvel's best villain to date, and we couldn't be any more excited.
Avengers: Secret Wars will be released on Dec. 17, 2027.