Why Red Skull Returned For Avengers: Infinity War

“A lifetime ago, I too sought the stones… I even held one in my hand. But it cast me out, banished me here, guiding others to a treasure I can not possess.”

Red Skull, the keeper of the Soul Stone, made a surprise cameo during Avengers: Infinity War. And for good reason, too, as he’s perhaps the perfect candidate to guard Vormir’s greatest treasure.

The First Avenger baddie was essentially vaporized back in 2011, when his obsession with the Infinity Stones proved to be his downfall. But Infinity War is living proof that Red Skull (real name: Johann Schmidt) was actually banished, not vaporized, and doomed to an eternity on Vormir, where his wraith-like figure hovers over the sacrificial altar guarding the Soul Stone.

And so, Red Skull was woven into the fabric of Avengers: Infinity War as the film’s creative team – namely Joe and Anthony Russo, along with co-writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely – needed a means of relaying crucial information about the Soul Stone and the sacrifice it demands.

Per CBM:

The filmmakers needed someone on Vormir to explain how to get the Soul Stone and he was the most logical choice because he was the first character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to show an interest/obsession in the Infinity Stones and his death wasn’t shown in The First Avenger.

There is one twist, though; that’s not actually Hugo Weaving hiding beneath the hood, but rather The Walking Dead‘s Ross Marquand, who secretly joined Avengers: Infinity War early on in production.

Going one step further, word is Red Skull may return for Avengers 4 as Earth’s Mightiest Heroes travel through a series of alternate timelines as they mount a counter-attack against Thanos. We’ll find out if that’s indeed the case on May 3rd, 2019.