Avengers: Secret Wars Reportedly Brings Back Fan-Favorite Villain (And Might Adapt a Classic Comic Book Scene)

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe is building toward a huge showdown in Avengers: Doomsday, which will be the biggest team-up movie in the franchise so far. Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, the film will bring together heroes from across the Marvel world – including the original Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men – to fight Robert Downey Jr. as Victor Von Doom. Avengers: Doomsday is just the first part of a two-part story, with the saga officially ending in Avengers: Secret Wars. While details about Secret Wars are still secret, it’s set to be the final chapter of the Multiverse Saga. Recent reports hint that Doctor Doom won’t be the only major villain returning for this epic conclusion.

A new report from industry source Daniel Richtman suggests Thanos (Josh Brolin) will appear in the upcoming Avengers: Secret Wars movie. Although Thanos was seemingly defeated in Avengers: Endgame, the multiverse allows for his return. It’s worth noting that while Richtman has been right about some Marvel plans in the past, his long-term predictions aren’t always accurate, so this news should be viewed with caution. However, including Thanos in Secret Wars makes sense given the comic book source material and the previous work of the Russo brothers. Rumors about Thanos appearing in the film have surfaced before as well.

What Is Thanos’ Role in Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars?

The possibility of Thanos returning suggests Marvel might be adapting a particularly shocking storyline from the 2015 comic event Secret Wars. In that story, the entire multiverse is destroyed, leaving behind only a single planet called Battleworld, ruled by the all-powerful Doctor Doom. Towards the end of the conflict, Thanos attacks Doom’s fortress with his army. In a now-famous moment, Doom and Thanos have a short conversation. When Thanos questions Doom’s power, Doom instantly kills him by ripping his skeleton out of his chest. This brutal display established Doom as an incredibly dangerous villain, and bringing it to the big screen could be a crucial step in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s storytelling.

As a huge Marvel fan, I think there’s a brilliant way to really establish Doctor Doom as a truly terrifying villain. Imagine if, instead of being the main threat right away, Doom takes down Thanos – yes, the Thanos! It would be so impactful, mirroring the opening of Infinity War where Thanos easily overpowered Hulk. That scene instantly told us Thanos was on another level, and doing something similar with Doom would do the same thing, but on a multiversal scale – maybe even recreate that incredible scene from Secret Wars! Plus, bringing Josh Brolin back as Thanos, only to have him defeated by Robert Downey Jr.’s Doom, would be a perfect way to connect the two parts of the Multiverse Saga. Honestly, since Thanos’s death, Marvel’s been searching for a villain who feels as important, and this would be a fantastic ‘passing the torch’ moment, solidifying Doom as the ultimate threat.

The movie Avengers: Doomsday is planned for release in theaters on December 18, 2026, and Avengers: Secret Wars will follow on December 17, 2027.

Would watching Doctor Doom defeat Thanos be a good way to show just how dangerous he is? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-01-26 17:41