Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, scheduled to be released on May 1, 2026, and May 7, 2027, respectively, are set to be the two major MCU films that will set everything straight and usher us into a completely new, as of yet unknown phase. The movies are expected to be major hits, and everyone is keeping their fingers crossed that it actually happens.

The MCU brought back the Russo Brothers and Robert Downey Jr. for these two movies, and while we know that Doctor Doom is going to be the main villain in these two movies, it is more than possible that an old MCU villain might make his return.

Yes, given everything that has happened, it’s very possible that Thanos will return in the upcoming movies. We’ve come across an intriguing theory about his comeback. This theory offers a new perspective on the character, which you’ll see soon.

Not that long ago, as we reported in one of our articles, Josh Brolin was asked whether he would want to come back as Thanos in the upcoming movies, and here is what the actor said:

I’m not kidding — There’s a thing with playing Thanos. It’s like, ‘Oh, they’re gonna bring Thanos back.’ It’s like Sicario; it has to be right. It’s like Ryan Reynolds and I talking about Taylor Swift and we should be talking about Deadpool 4. But we go back and forth. Again, it’s what in his mind fits, what in my mind fits. Thanos has to fit if you’re going to bring him back. I would do anything that the Russos wanted me to do.

This quick reminder serves as a note to everyone that Thanos could still come back, seeing the multiversal nature of the current phase of the MCU. Having said this, we found an interesting theory that might explain how and in what capacity:

Could Thanos return in MCU? And when and where? My theory now: It’s not sure yet, but if he returns he maybe return in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. If this happen, we will see his tragic death which is the removal of his skull and spine. Why Thanos has to have this death? Because in comics Doctor Victor Von Doom did this as God Emperor Doom. Because comics aren’t a canon in MCU and we didn’t know even if Doctor Doom turn into God Emperor Doom in the film, that’s not sure.

Thanos could also appear in What if…? Season 3 or Eternals 2.

I am almost sure that if they bring Thanos to the Avengers he won’t be the villain, I think that he is gonna be a hero. Why: Because Thanos was from the begining a hero who want to give to the universe “freedom” but also there are theories that Thanos trying to stop villains like Galactus, Silver Surfer and Doctor Doom, also it will be nice if saw him to fight with Dr. Doom, this time he is the hero and Doom is the villain.

Source: MCU Wikia

This is actually something that we can support. The notion that Thanos will come back as a hero, i.e., an enemy of Doctor Doom makes sense. Doom is a much more destructive power than Thanos, as Thanos simply wanted to see a more sustainable world, at least when the MCU is concerned.

In light of that, if the two of them clash, there is an ample opportunity to bring back the epic moment when Emperor Doom kills Thanos on the screen, and ultimately unite Thanos with Lady Death in the MCU, seeing how the latter made her debut in Agatha All Along.

This would be one amazing example of storytelling, and we would definitely love to see it happen.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!