Summary
Thanos is once again returning in 2024, proving that theMCUcan’t move on fromAvengers: Endgameeven five years after it was released. The MCU’s obsession withAvengers: Endgameisn’t entirely surprising, given that it is theMCU’s highest-grossing movie, and the second highest-grossing movie of all time (beaten byAvatarafter it was re-released). Needless to say, while hitting the heady heights of a $2 billion movie isn’t a realistic expectation for mostupcoming MCU projects, Marvel seems preoccupied with focusing on its proven successes.
Nevertheless, the MCU needs to start backing its new narrative by shifting focus. 2024 is a sparse year for MCU releases, and it remains unclear whether the only cinematic release -Deadpool & Wolverine- will also feature a Thanos variant. Regardless, he has reared his purple head once more in an unusual spinoff, adding to the plethora of post-Endgameappearances - even if it is outsidethe main MCU timeline.
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What If…? – An Immersive Story Brought Back Thanos Again In 2024
What If…? – An Immersive Storyis a mixed reality video game exclusively playable on the Apple Vision Pro, and features a slew of MCU characters appearing as variants across the multiverse. A trailer for the video game was released onYouTube, and depicts what prospective players can expect from the game - namely, a healthy dose of Infinity Stones and, of course, Thanos. While the video game features themain narrative arc of the Multiverse Sagain the form of the multiverse itself, the Infinity Stones and their effects are just as central.
While the game seems to provide a compelling gameplay loop in the form of collecting the Infinity Stones, it’s all too apparent that the MCU is not yet comfortable relying on the Multiverse Saga and its own arch villain, Kang the Conqueror.
Suffice it to say, where there are Infinity Stones, there’s Thanos, andthe Mad Titan can be seen in the trailer wielding the Reality Stone with his bare hands. While the game seems to provide a compelling gameplay loop in the form of collecting the Infinity Stones, it’s all too apparent that the MCU is not yet comfortable relying on the Multiverse Saga and its own arch villain, Kang the Conqueror. Instead, Thanos is back with a vengeance and continues a frustrating trend despite him ostensibly dying for good inAvengers: Endgame.
Thanos Has Been A Constant Presence In Marvel’s On-Screen Franchise Despite His Endgame Death
So far,Thanos has been killed eight times in the MCU, which is indicative of how often the Mad Titan has appeared in a post-Infinity Saga landscape. This is largely thanks to shows likeWhat If…?bringing back Thanos variants, though MCU movies have also leaned into Thanos' legacy with the trailer forThe Marvelseven featuring his voice in what seemed like a cynical effort to drive last-minute ticket sales. With his appearance inWhat If…? – An Immersive Story,Thanos has now appeared more times in the Multiverse Saga than he has in the Infinity Saga.
Post-credits scene
Guardians of the Galaxy
Footage of Loki’s death
Episode 8: What If… the Avengers Assembled in 1602
Multiverse Saga
Thanos' omnipresence is now becomingan issue for the Multiverse Saga. Despite the focus on the Mad Titan significantly sidelining the character that is supposed to be replacing him - namely, Kang - it also hammers home the notion thatthe multiverse negates the stakes as death becomes irrelevant. More frustrating, however, are the myriad instances in which Thanos is mentioned, or archived footage is used, highlighting how the MCU can’t move on.
The MCU Will Never Escape Thanos & Endgame If Their Stories Keep Being Used
MCU Phase 4 was ostensibly poised to tell the story of those involved in the Infinity Saga dealing with the after-effects. This was arguably achieved, withAnt-Man and the Wasp: Quantumaniaostensibly launching MCU Phase 5 and Kang the Conqueror as the new overarching threat for the MCU’s inhabitants to focus on. Yet less than one year later, Thanos was once again up to his usual tricks after featuring twice inWhat If…?season 2 while Kang didn’t feature at all.
Kang’s MCU future still remains unclear following Jonathan Majors' departure and no confirmed recast.
This makes it incredibly difficult for the MCU to move on from Thanos and have audiences invest in its new narrative. While it is entirely within the purview ofWhat If…?to keep featuring long-dead characters,Marvel’s apprehension to spotlight its new big bad makes marketing him as “the new Thanos” near impossible. WhetherDeadpool & Wolverinewill lean into Kang the Conqueror and sidestep all mention of Thanos remains to be seen, but time is running short for the MCU to move away fromAvengers: Endgame.
