The Mad Titan may not be finished with the Marvel Cinematic Universe just yet. A viral piece of promotional material for Avengers: Doomsday has sparked massive fan speculation that Thanos could return—only to be crushed by Marvel’s newest villain, Doctor Doom. But is it inevitable?
At Disney’s official Marketing Expo in Shanghai, China, Marvel Studios unveiled an Avengers: Doomsday light show highlighting Robert Downey Jr.’s full debut as Victor von Doom. For most of the show, Doom loomed as the centerpiece, his comic-accurate armor glowing across the skyline. But about one minute and fifteen seconds into the spectacle, audiences got a shocking image: Doom holding a skeleton in his hand, basking in triumph, and it’s something we’ve seen before.
Comic fans immediately recognized the callback. In Jonathan Hickman and Alex Ross’ Secret Wars (2015), Doom obliterates Thanos in one of the most brutal moments in Marvel Comics history, tearing the Titan’s spine from his body. The Shanghai light show appeared to replicate that exact panel, suggesting that Marvel might bring the scene to life on the big screen. Of course, this doesn’t mean the MCU is bringing back Josh Brolin’s Thanos for a starring role. The villain has been canonically dead since Avengers: Endgame. But since when did dead meen literally anything in the Marvel Cinematic universe?
We’re pretty certain that Avengers: Doomsday is set to dive deep into the multiverse, so the most likely scenario is a Variant of Thanos popping up—only to be instantly dispatched by Doom to establish his dominance. Which is fine, really. If Marvel chooses to adapt that iconic comic moment, fans shouldn’t expect the full level of gore from the source material. Still, the visual of Doom dismantling the Infinity Saga’s big bad would be enough to cement him as the most terrifying threat the Avengers have ever faced. It’s a pretty hardcore visual.
What Can We Expect from Doomsday?
Set to be the MCU’s 39th film overall, Avengers: Doomsday promises the largest cast of Marvel heroes yet—27 Marvel Studios stars and legacy actors are confirmed to face Doom’s wrath. Rumors suggest Marvel may hold the first trailer until San Diego Comic-Con 2026, which means this light show could be the only taste fans get for quite some time. Still, the tease of Doom clutching Thanos’ skeleton has done its job: excitement is through the roof, and the MCU looks ready to crown a new ultimate villain.
Avengers: Doomsday arrives in theaters on December 18, 2026.
