TheMarvel Cinematic UniversebuiltThanosinto the ultimate villain of Phase 3, weaving hints and backstory across multiple films before his full reveal, though some of these teases proved to be misleading. From mysterious references in early movies to his iconic weapon, the Infinity Gauntlet, each of Thanos’s appearances in theMarvel Cinematic Universe timelinewas calculated to establish him as an existential threat to the universe. In laying this groundwork, Marvel set up the climacticAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgame, though not everything quite paid off and needed to be retconned in subsequent movies.
Thanos’s arrival in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was initiated way back in Phase 1, with his plans becoming evident by Phase 2, and his iconic arrival in the climax of Phase 3. Indeed, his presence was felt throughout the entire Infinity Saga. After his defeat inAvengers: Endgame, Thanos reappeared inWhat if…?as a multiversal variant, and made a brief cameo inDoctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. Though Marvel has introduced some iconic villains, Thanos might be thegreatest in Marvel movie history, proffering a compelling yet despicable adversary for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
7The Avengers Set Up Thanos as the Force Behind the Chitauri
The Avengers (2012)
InThe Avengers(2012), Thanos is officially introduced, and established as the dark power behind Loki’s attack on Earth. Indeed, Thanos lent Loki the Chitauri army and the powerful staff to aid his invasion of Earth in search of the Tesseract. While he remains in the shadows, his presence is subtly built up, hinting at his control over immense cosmic forces. At the film’s end, he is revealed to be the mastermind, grinning ominously at the thought of a fight with Earth’s mightiest heroes. This early appearance positions Thanos as a powerful, mysterious figure orchestrating chaos from afar.
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Notably,The Avengersimplies Thanos’s obsession with death, a significant comic book trait where he pursues destruction to court Lady Death herself. This is his motivation in the comics, which was referenced when Thanos commented thatto “challenge [humans] is to court death.”Though the MCU didn’t adapt this directly,the death fixation is reframed as his mission to “balance” the universeby eliminating half its population. This reimagined motive gave Thanos a unique, if twisted, moral philosophy, resonating as an existential threat inInfinity Warand delivering a chilling payoff.
6The Avengers Introduced an Early Thanos Design
WithThe Avengerspost-credits scene, audiences were given a brief but thrilling first look at Thanos. The scene depicted his initial design with his trademark purple skin, ridged chin, and immensely powerful build. However,Thanos’s first design did evolvesomewhat beforeAvengers: Infinity Warwhere his look was further refined. Initially, Thanos’s face had harsher lines and a much more vivid purple hue. Many ofthese traits were softened and honed in subsequent appearances. Thanos was also briefly given a blue skin tone in theGuardians of the Galaxypost-credits scene.
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Though Josh Brolin brought the villain to life throughout the majority of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, his initial appearance inThe Avengersdid not feature Brolin. Damion Poitier played the Mad Titan first, using much of the same motion capture technology used later. As such, his first official appearance in the MCU wasn’t quite the Thanos audiences got later.
By the time he debuted fully inAvengers: Infinity War, his design had reached its final form. He was created using theperfect balance between realistic CGI and comic book accuracy. With Josh Brolin’s impressive acting skills, this completed form was cemented, finalising the famed foe.
5The Avengers Established Thanos’s Use of Envoys
A key strategy for Thanos throughout the MCU’s Infinity Saga was his reliance on envoys and minions to pursue his goals.The Avengersestablished this trait early on, setting the villain up perfectly for his final emergence. Instead of seeking the Tesseract himself, Thanos entrusts Loki with the task, establishing a penchant for using intermediaries to achieve his aims. This characteristic becomes central to Thanos’s strategy in later films, where he employs powerful followers to hunt down the Infinity Stones.
This tactic allows Thanos to maintain control without immediate involvement, carefully plotting his moves from afar. His envoys, including Ronan, Gamora, and later the Black Order, are critical in setting up the six Infinity Stone narratives that span the MCU. By positioning him as a distant but controlling force, the MCU heightened anticipation for the eventual, direct showdown with Thanos himself, a promise fully delivered inInfinity War.Itestablished Thanos as a far-reaching and ever-present foe, dominating the entire franchise from the comfort of his throne before entering the fray himself.
4Guardians of the Galaxy Confirmed He Was Responsible for Mass Genocide
Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
Thanos’s ruthless ambitions are fully revealed inGuardians of the Galaxy, which confirms his history of mass genocide across multiple worlds. This film emphasizes his role as an intergalactic tyrant, who has no moral qualms about sacrificing billions to realize his vision. The film also introduces Gamora, Thanos’s adopted daughter, whosetragic past is a direct result of his merciless quest for balance. However, one major discrepancy is thatGuardians of the Galaxystated that Thanos killed all of Gamora’s people.
This was later retconned inInfinity War, which changed Thanos’s actions to be more in line with his universe-balancing scheme. Rather than kill all of Gamora’s species, Thanos killed half of the population. This might be the biggest change in Thanos’s MCU set-up, though it served the moment well. It introduced Thanos as a cruel and murderous villain with a penchant for mass destruction. Elucidating his half-the-population planmight have bogged downGuardians of the Galaxy’s narrative too much. This simplified approach better servedGOTGand the introduction of Gamora, but it did need to be rectified in later movies.
3Guardians of the Galaxy Depicted Thanos’s Followers Betraying Him
InGuardians of the Galaxy, the loyalty of Thanos’s followers is tested and ultimately broken. Thanos’s two adopted daughters Gamora and Nebula, along with the powerful Ronan the Accuser, each betray him. This betrayal showcases a critical weakness in Thanos’s approach: his inability to inspire genuine loyalty in those he manipulates, only fear and anguish. Gamora’s defection, in particular, isa major emotional arc in the MCU, providing a personal connection that later impacts Thanos’s quest inAvengers: Infinity War, and the trajectory of theGuardians of the Galaxymovies.
These betrayals force Thanos to take matters into his own hands, leading him to personally seek out the Infinity Stones instead of relying on others. This narrative thread ultimately pays off inInfinity War,where Thanos’s relentless determination and willingness to sacrifice even those he claims to care about proves successful. The groundwork laid by these earlier betrayals set this up,convincing Thanos to finally get up from this throne and enact his plan himself. This was key in transitioning the MCU’s Infinity War villains from an envoy of Thanos to the Mad Titan himself.
2Thor First Introduced the Infinity Gauntlet
Thor (2011)
Thanos’s Infinity Gauntlet first appears inThor(2011) as an Easter egg in Odin’s vault, sparking fan theories about its significance in the MCU. It seemed that Thanos’s famed weapon was readily available, complete with all the Infinity Stones. Rather than scouring the universe, it seemed that all Thanos would need to do was break into the Asgardian vault and collect his prize. This Easter Egg inThorwas likely added before Thanos’s predominance in the franchise was decided. Regardless, itconsequently forced the MCU into another Thanos-related retcon.
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This Infinity Gauntlet was later revealed as fake inThor: Ragnarok, confirmed by Hela as she inspects Odin’s treasures in the Asgardian vault. By resolving this continuity point, theMCU clarified the authenticity of the Infinity Gauntlet Thanos would eventually wield. This setup gave the Gauntlet an aura of legend and inevitability, preparing audiences for the immense power Thanos would unleash inAvengers: Infinity War. This might be the most conspicuous discrepancy in Thanos’s set-up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, prompting much confusion among savvy audiences who spotted the early Marvel Easter Egg.
1Age of Ultron Gave Thanos the Real Infinity Gauntlet
Avengers: Age Of Ultron
At the end ofAvengers: Age of Ultron, Thanos makes a brief but vital appearance in a post-credits scene. In this scene, Thanos dons the real Infinity Gauntlet for the first time, remarking to himself,“Fine, I’ll do it myself.”This moment is a pivotal setup, as it confirms that Thanos is ready to take direct action to obtain the Infinity Stones himself,officially instigating hisAvengers: Infinity Warstoryline. Up until this point, he had relied on others to gather the Stones, but his decision to wield the Gauntlet signals a turning point in his journey.
ThisAge of Ultronscene solidifies Thanos as the primary antagonist heading into Phase 3, affirming that he is now actively pursuing the Infinity Stones. It also hints at his impatience and frustration with his envoys’ failures, whichultimately drives him to take matters into his own hands. When Thanos finally makes his full debut inAvengers: Infinity War, this moment feels fully paid off, as it leads directly into his confrontation with Earth’s mightiest heroes and the universe at large. It is perhaps the most exciting Thanos set-up in theMarvel Cinematic Universe.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a multimedia superhero franchise that began in 2008 with Paramount’s Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr. The franchise quickly grew in popularity, with Disney eventually buying out Marvel Entertainment in 2009. The MCU consists of dozens of movies and TV shows, most notably Avengers: Endgame, WandaVision, and Loki.
The Avengers
Cast
The sixth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers is an action superhero film that sees the heroes assembled across the franchise face off with a deadly galactic threat. With the arrival of Thor’s brother, Loki, heroes such as Captain America, The Hulk, Iron Man, and Black Widow are brought together to stop him from unleashing an alien race upon earth.
Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, featuring Chris Pratt as Peter Quill. Abducted from Earth as a child, Quill navigates intergalactic adventures, becoming entwined in a conflict centered on a powerful orb coveted by Ronan the Accuser.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Avengers: Age of Ultron, released in 2015, follows Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man and Captain America, as they contend with Ultron, a rogue AI with plans for global annihilation. This Marvel sequel sees The Avengers form uneasy alliances and embark on a perilous global adventure to thwart Ultron’s schemes.
