A compelling fan theory circulating within the MCU community suggests that the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday film will reintroduce Josh Brolin’s Thanos, only for Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom to eliminate him within the movie’s opening scene. The casting announcement for Avengers: Doomsday has confirmed a return for more than two dozen Marvel characters, which includes the Thunderbolts, the Avengers, and various X-Men from Fox’s cinematic universe. There remains the potential for additional MCU characters to feature in undisclosed major roles or brief cameo appearances, capitalizing on the film’s multiverse theme. These supporting roles may comprise TVA agents, lesser-known MCU heroes, and an array of mutants from diverse timelines of the X-Men franchise.
The multiverse concept offers limitless storytelling opportunities for both Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. Previous Avengers films such as Infinity War and Endgame vastly surpassed expectations regarding character appearances, featuring notable cameos from figures like Red Skull, Howard Stark, and even characters like the Ancient One and Harley Keener. As the multiverse theme expands, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars could elevate their narratives through fresh character appearances, potentially including figures from the various X-Men timelines, the Fantastic Four universe, and even variants of characters from Sony’s Spider-Man franchises.
Doctor Doom Kills Thanos in Marvel Comics’ 2015 Secret Wars
A Defining Feat: Doctor Doom’s Confrontation with Thanos
The narratives in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are expected to draw heavily from Marvel Comics’ various Secret Wars arcs, particularly the acclaimed 2015 storyline. In these comics, Thanos allies himself with several notorious villains including Terrax, Maximus, Proxima Midnight, and Namor, attacking universes on a collision course with Earth-616. Ultimately, after feeling betrayed by Namor, Thanos and his allies encounter Reed Richards from the Ultimate Universe, also known as “The Maker”, which results in the creation of Battleworld and the rise of God Emperor Doom.
In this storyline, Doctor Strange serves as the right-hand man to God Emperor Doom. He transports Thanos to a realm on Battleworld overrun by zombie versions of Marvel heroes. Though Thanos initially survives an attack from the undead, he later organizes a rebellion against Doom’s rule and confronts him. However, Doom, unimpressed by Thanos’ threat (notably because Thanos lacks the Infinity Stones), swiftly fatalizes their encounter by punching a hole through Thanos’ chest. Subsequently, Doom ridicules Thanos while removing his spine, marking Thanos’ demise as one of his most disgraceful defeats.
Avengers: Doomsday Could Mirror the Most Brutal Doctor Doom Moment from Secret Wars
Demonstrating Power: Thanos’ Demise as Doctor Doom’s Signature Move
While it is likely that Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars will draw influences from Marvel Comics’ Time Runs Out and Secret Wars arcs, there is little expectation for a direct panel-for-panel adaptation. Instead, Marvel Studios might cleverly integrate God Emperor Doom’s chilling moment from the 2015 Secret Wars by featuring a powerful variant of Thanos who meets his end at the hands of Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom in a divergent timeline. This timeline could originate from Doctor Doom’s own universe or represent a reality he invades.
The opening sequence of Avengers: Doomsday presents an extraordinary opportunity to showcase the full extent of Doom’s ambition and power. The death of a live-action Thanos variant portrayed by Josh Brolin would make for an impactful cameo in a movie of this magnitude. Since Avengers: Doomsday could be among the last chances to witness a live-action portrayal of Thanos within the Multiverse Saga, this brutal act could powerfully resonate with audiences.
Thanos’ Demise in Avengers: Doomsday Could Echo a Key Moment from Infinity War
An Exercise in Irony: Doctor Doom’s Kill Reflecting Thanos’ Past
The opening sequence of Avengers: Infinity War saw Thanos brutally desolate the survivors of Asgard. His assault led to multiple fatalities, including Heimdall, and culminated in the infamous neck-snapping of Loki, ultimately ending the original God of Mischief’s arc. Loki’s grim demise echoed the sequence of events surrounding Thanos’ death in the 2015 Secret Wars, incorporating tense final words from the victim and the brutal efficiency of the killer. In this scenario, Doctor Doom could deliver a poetic revenge by turning Thanos’ own tactics against him.
As Avengers: Infinity War resurrected its principal antagonist only to eliminate him right away, Avengers: Doomsday could take a similar approach, proving the overwhelming superiority of Doctor Doom in a matter reminiscent of Thanos’ own earlier actions. This strategic move would not only highlight Doom’s formidable power but also serve as a meta-commentary on Thanos’ past role as the overarching villain throughout the Infinity Saga.
Marvel’s Approach: Thanos as a Catalyst for Other Villains
One-Time Returns: Thanos as a Tactical Sacrifice
Since the climactic third snap executed by Iron Man in Avengers: Endgame resulted in Thanos’ defeat, the character has made several subsequent appearances, often only to be killed off shortly thereafter. Characters like Ronan, Killmonger, Infinity Ultron, and a horde of alternate-universe zombies have dispatched various Thanos variants in Marvel’s What If…? Additionally, the Illuminati from Earth-838 reportedly dispatched Thanos years prior in an encounter shrouded in mystery leading up to the events in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. It’s within this evolving dynamic that Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom could add to the roster of characters who take down Thanos in Avengers: Doomsday.
For Marvel Studios, reintroducing Thanos without negating his defeat in Avengers: Endgame is a delicate balancing act. Only through offing various multiversal variants could they make room for a Thanos return without undermining the original storyline. Any rebirth must tread carefully to prevent Thanos from deteriorating into a mere joke; thus, providing him with a definitive send-off in Avengers: Doomsday may be the most prudent path forward.
With alternate-universe Thanos variants making fleeting appearances in projects like What If…? and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, this structured approach seems the most viable for successfully reintroducing Thanos while preserving the impact of his original defeat.