Marvel fans may not have to wait too much longer to see Thanos return to the MCU.
Josh Brolin played Thanos in the MCU for several years, with the character serving as the main antagonist in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War and 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. Thanos died at the end of Avengers: Endgame; however, thanks to the rules of the multiverse, many fans have suspected he could return in some capacity in future projects. Brolin has, for example, returned to voice the character in a handful of What If…? episodes.
What did Josh Brolin say about Thanos returning to the MCU?
Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Brolin addressed a potential MCU return for Thanos.
“If Joe Russo comes to me —which he may have. I don’t know. And has an idea, then I might acquiesce,” Brolin said. “Probably pretty quickly.”
At this time, there’s been no confirmation that Brolin will return as Thanos in a future Marvel Studios project. Having said that, Joe and Anthony Russo are now directing two new Avengers movies, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. While Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom will be the villain in those movies, many are expecting an iconic moment from the Secret Wars comic involving Doom and Thanos could be part of one of those forthcoming movies.
Avengers: Doomsday is currently slated to be released on December 18, 2026, while Avengers: Secret Wars follows on December 17, 2027. Spider-Man 4, also known as Spider-Man: Brand New Day, will be released before both of those movies on July 31, 2026.
Brolin, meanwhile, is now starring in Edgar Wright’s remake of The Running Man, which arrives in United States theaters this coming weekend. He’ll also soon be reprising his role as Gurney Halleck in Denis Villeneuve’s third Dune movie, Dune: Part Three, which is expected to arrive in December 2026.