Jim Starlin is convinced that Thanos should return to the MCU. Played by Josh Brolin, the character was teased as early as Kenneth Branagh's Thor in 2011. But, he wasn't properly introduced until 2018's Avengers: Infinity War, and not long after that, he was ultimately defeated by the Avengers, albeit with some sacrifices from the team, in Avengers: Endgame.
Despite his rather short stint in the MCU, only really appearing at the end of the Infinity Saga, Thanos made a lasting impact in the franchise. He's still often referenced as one of the most notable villains. Within the universe, it seems he has only become more popular with arguments that Thanos was right to continue in projects like Hawkeye, while the events of Eternals suggest that his snap was actually good for the galaxy. Despite his complicated legacy, there's still interest in seeing him back in the MCU, one way or another. That includes the character's creator, Starlin, who makes a good point as to why Marvel Studios should bring back Thanos in the universe.
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY
Talking with Inverse, Starlin shares his two cents about why Thanos resonated with many despite being a villain. With that, he also makes a good case for why Marvel Studios needs to bring back the Titan to the MCU even though he already died in Avengers: Endgame. Read Starlin's full explanation below:
Well, I think he probably hits a nerve. He raises questions that a number of us have thought about. He's also just a badass character. I don't think anybody thinks we've seen the last of him. Disney made a s***load of money off of him and there's probably a s***load of money still to be made. So my fingers are crossed.
Starlin is not wrong. Getting the look of Thanos took a lot of time and money; it's worth noting that Marvel Studios changed his appearance several times before settling on what ended up in Avengers: Infinity War. Between that and the continued clamor to learn more about the Titan, bringing back the character has a lot of benefits. In any case, his return doesn't mean that his death would be undone. Perhaps his next MCU appearance could be part of a prequel story for Eros, his brother who was recently introduced via Eternals. Or, Marvel Studios can focus on delving more into his personal history with his own solo project that tackles his childhood, leading to his quest for the Infinity Stones in the Infinity Saga. This would address one of the most common criticisms regarding the handling of the character as some argue that his introduction was still rushed despite how beloved Avengers: Infinity War was.
In any case, if Marvel Studios decides to bring back Thanos, it wouldn't be that difficult for them to do. They have a couple of ways to do that between going the prequel route or utilizing the burgeoning multiverse to do it. If Brolin is confirmed to return as Cable for the upcoming Deadpool 3 film, it would also make it easier for the MCU to convince the actor to reprise the role. The challenge now is to make sure that whatever they decide on doing will not tarnish the rather great arc the character had in the Infinity Saga.