Thanos could return to theMCUinAvengers: Secret Warsand replicate an iconic scene straight from the comics.Avengers: Secret Warsis due to be releasedon July 16, 2025, and will concludethe MCU’s Multiverse Sagawith what promises to be the most consequential events sinceAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgame. With confirmation thatAvengers: The Kang Dynastyhas been replaced byAvengers: Doomsday, it is likely that the latter will directly set up the events ofAvengers: Secret Warswith Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom assuming the role of arch-villain in both.
Story details forAvengers: Secret Warsare still forthcoming, though it is possible to confidently predict how it will shape up. The comic book run it’s named after sees Doctor Doom presiding over a single planet cobbled together from sections of various universes destroyed by incursions with the powers of a god, becoming the insurmountable God Emperor Doom. The story bringsMarvel variants from across the multiversetogether, with Thanos among them in one of the most unforgettable interactions in Marvel Comics.
Thanos' Role In Secret Wars Was Unforgettable
Avengers: Secret Warswill most likely adapt the 2015 run of the same name due to the MCU’s current focus on the Multiverse and Doom’s central role. Should this be the case, it may replicate a series of panels from Marvel Comics that saw Doctor Doom face fellow big bad, Thanos, in a decidedly brief encounter. In it,Thanos challenges Doom’s godhoodwith the Annihilation Horde at his back, confidently asserting that he could defeat Doom even without the Infinity Gauntlet in his possession.Doom then plunges his fist into Thanos' chest and rips out his spine.
Doctor Doom’s godlike powers inSecret Warswere taken from the Beyonders, some of Marvel’s most powerful cosmic beings.
Even without a complete Infinity Gauntlet, Thanos is no joke. He does, after all, defeat Hulk at the beginning ofAvengers: Infinity Warin hand-to-hand combat. Without his godlike powers, Doom would indeed have cause for concern in a face-off with Thanos - particularly as the Mad Titan descends on Doom in a surprise attack, leaving the strategic genius little time to prepare. In this particular circumstance, however, Thanos' hubris helps to demonstrate just how powerful God Emperor Doom has become.
Josh Brolin’s Return Means Secret Wars Can Play This Comic Book Scene Straight
The Fight Would Be Reminiscent Of Thanos Defeating Hulk In Avengers: Infinity War
Josh Brolin, who portrayed Thanos throughout the Infinity Saga, was recently asked byColliderwhether he would return to therole if asked forAvengers: Secret Wars.Brolin confirmed that he would be happy to as long as the circumstances were conducive, stating “Thanos has to fit if you’re going to bring him back. I would do anything that the Russos wanted me to do.” The Multiverse Saga provides plenty of room for wanton cameos, but this interaction matches Brolin’s conditions perfectly.
Having Doom effortlessly destroy the villain that caused so much devastation in the Infinity Saga would drive home just how heightened the stakes have become compared to the past.
Thanos plays a minor role in the events ofSecret Wars. Brolin’s return would only need to be as brief as his smattering of scenes throughout the Infinity Saga in the lead-up toAvengers: Infinity War. Yet the scene would be crucial in one key way:establishing just how powerful the MCU’s newest arch-villain is. Having Doom effortlessly destroy the villain that caused so much devastation in the Infinity Saga would drive home just how heightened the stakes have become compared to the past.
Could The Infinity Stones Even Return In Secret Wars?
Comic Book Precedent Says They Can
Thanos is so inexorably tied to the Infinity Stones that his arrival inAvengers: Secret Warswould raise the question of whether they would come with him. It is also impossible not to consider the power of the stones in the face of the hopelessness engendered by Doom’s seemingly insurmountable superiority. In the comics, Thanos does not possess the stones - but they do appear. Moments after Doom destroys Thanos,Black Panther enters the fray with a complete Infinity Gauntlet and challenges Doom to a godly battle.
Every MCU Character Who Wielded An Infinity Stone (Besides Thanos)
Thanos was the first to gather the six Infinity Stones, but many other characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe also wielded them at some point.
This further demonstrates the power at Doom’s disposal, asthe two proceed to be evenly matched. Amid the typical blasts of energy deployed by both parties, the two can also be seen piloting mechs and transforming into cosmic beasts. Ultimately, Black Panther falls to Doom before admitting that their almighty brawl was simply a distraction to allow other parties to complete a more consequential mission to counteract Doom. Still, for the same reasons as reintroducing Thanos, replicating this scene inAvengers: Secret Warswould be a surefire way of showing how powerful Doom truly is.
Avengers: Secret Wars
Cast
Avengers: Secret Wars is an anticipated installment in Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, serving as the finale of The Multiverse Saga. Scheduled for release in December 2027, the film’s plot remains under wraps, fueling curiosity about its role in the expansive Marvel narrative.
