Though it’s evident that Thanos still has at least one more MCU adventure ahead of him, the Mad Titan seemed perfectly content by the end of Avengers: Infinity War to live out the rest of his days in solitude and quiet.
It’s a point that was emphasized by co-director Joe Russo in a recent interview with Empire, stressing that while Earth’s Mightiest Heroes have some unfinished business to settle with the tyrant in next year’s Avengers: Endgame, the villain himself is under the impression that his work is now done.
“He’s retired. He’s succeeded in the thing he has set out to do. He’s done. He did it.”
Russo’s comments echo those of Josh Brolin from a few weeks ago, when the actor claimed that in the final shot of Infinity War, Thanos is “perfectly and totally satisfied having accomplished what he set out to do.” Indeed, the first Endgame trailer seems to confirm that the character still thinks his fighting days are over, with its footage of Thanos wandering through a farm while his suit of armor is being used as a scarecrow.
Nonetheless, as the various toy leaks and concept art makes evident, the Mad Titan will wear the armor once more in his next film. It only figures that the universe wouldn’t let him have a quiet retirement after what he did, and in the same Empire interview, Anthony Russo suggested that the Decimation has united people in a common cause.
“These are characters and a story moving forward where Infinity War happened. The entire universe experienced the same fate, and has been brought together by this experience.”
How exactly Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and allies plan to undo the damage done in Avengers: Infinity War remains the number one question, but we’ll find out when Avengers: Endgame hits theaters on April 26th, 2019.