The Eternals is set to introduce the immortal race of godlike beings into the MCU, but Avengers: Infinity War and its recent sequel Avengers: Endgame could have got there first by exploring Thanos’ backstory on Titan. We’ve previously been told that flashbacks to the Mad Titan’s past were originally part of the script but were ultimately excised and this newly-revealed concept art gives us a feel for what these flashbacks would’ve been like, thereby providing our first look at the Eternals in the MCU.
Thanos’ people are, of course, a strain of the Eternals race, with the Mad Titan himself a Deviant, one of a mutated subspecies. Concept artist Ryan Lang shared his work on Twitter recently, explaining that he was tasked with designing the group as well as a young version of Josh Brolin’s baddie for the shelved flashbacks.
“Thanos family portrait (not really),” Lang said in his caption. “I was asked to visualize what Eternals looked like next to a young Thanos. I think there was a flash back at one point. That’s all I know.”
Due to Lang’s use of the word “Eternals,” there was some confusion initially over whether this concept art revealed that young Thanos was to appear in The Eternals. Lang cleared this up in a second tweet, though, which confirmed it was for Infinity War. Apparently, you can see his design for the Titans during Thanos’ vision of what life on his homeworld was like when he’s talking to Doctor Strange.
Of course, it’s still possible that Thanos might appear in The Eternals all the same. Infinity War even name-checked his Eternal father A’lars, which some have interpreted as a tease that the villain’s backstory may be explored or perhaps just hinted at in the film. It would certainly be fascinating to see a more stable Thanos, before he became obsessed with bringing balance to the universe after the destruction of his planet.
We’ll just have to wait and see if that’s what Marvel has in store for us though when The Eternals starts shooting later this year ahead of its expected release in 2020.
