Josh Brolin Wants to See Thanos Face Off With Doctor Doom in the MCU

Few villains cast a shadow over the MCU like Thanos. Even years after Tony Stark’s snap in ‘Avengers: Endgame’, fans keep asking whether the Mad Titan could somehow come back, and the arrival of a new big bad has only fueled that conversation.

That new villain is Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr., who is set to anchor ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ under the direction of the Russo brothers. Thanos was the main antagonist of ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Endgame’, which each grossed more than $2 billion worldwide. Downey has spoken about the pressure of following that act, since a villain tends to define how good the movie is.

Now Josh Brolin has weighed in on a matchup that fans have been dreaming up. Speaking to Polygon about his new survival thriller ‘Whalefall’, which opens October 16, Brolin was asked whether Thanos could beat Doctor Doom. He didn’t pick a winner, but said he likes the idea of any confrontation with Downey and loves that his old co-star is taking on the role.

Josh Brolin wants Thanos to fight Doctor Doom in the #MCU. “Any confrontation with Robert Downey Jr., I like the idea of. I love that he’s doing that, by the way. I can’t wait to see [Avengers: Doomsday].” (via @Polygon) https://t.co/pk7xrgEEnX
— Cosmic Marvel (@cosmic_marvel) October 14, 2026

The idea of Thanos and Doom colliding isn’t just fan fiction. In the 2015 ‘Secret Wars’ comic storyline, Doctor Doom absorbed the powers of the Beyonders and ripped Thanos apart by the spine and skull. Fans have long hoped that moment could be recreated on screen, especially since similar violence could appear in ‘Secret Wars’ in 2027.

Marketing for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ has also teased that Doom defeated Thanos in another reality, which has kept the speculation alive. That wouldn’t confirm anything about the character’s return, but it does show how closely the two villains are being linked.

Brolin has been remarkably consistent about being willing to come back. He has said he stays in contact with the Russos and Downey, and that he would return if the right idea came along. Last year he told Entertainment Tonight that he might say yes if Joe Russo came to him with a plan.

He has been just as relaxed about the possibility more recently. In a ComicBook.com exclusive, he said that if a return happens, it happens, and that playing Thanos has had a major impact on him because he loved doing it. At New York Comic-Con, he reportedly said the character would have to fit the story if Marvel brought him back.

There is no confirmation. Thanos is not expected to appear in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, and Brolin is not part of the announced cast. A rumor from the scooper MyTimeToShineHello previously claimed he was in talks to return, presumably for ‘Secret Wars’, but Marvel has not said anything official.

That leaves ‘Secret Wars’ as the most logical landing spot. The film is designed as the finale of the Multiverse Saga, which gives it room for variants and callbacks, and Thanos plays a major role in the comic storyline it shares a name with. If Marvel wants a showdown that echoes the page, the pieces are in place.

He used to be different. Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters everywhere December 18. Get your tickets now: https://t.co/J5PUbxvAkc https://t.co/OUutSMZneq
— Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) August 15, 2026

‘Avengers: Doomsday’ arrives December 18, followed by ‘Secret Wars’ on December 17, 2027. Brolin has said he can’t wait to see ‘Doomsday’, which suggests he is as curious as fans about how Downey’s Doom will land. He also continues to stay busy outside Marvel, with ‘Whalefall’ in theaters this week and an action comedy, ‘Brothers’, co-starring Peter Dinklage on the way.

For now, a Thanos and Doom fight remains a fan wish rather than a plan. But with the Russos back at the helm and Brolin openly cheering the idea on, it’s one that is hard to rule out.