Paul Rudd Has Given The Popular Thanus Fan Theory Some Thought

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Summary

  • Fans question how Thanos could’ve been defeated differently, with the ‘Thanus’ theory of Ant-Man shrinking and entering him.
  • Despite possibilities, defeating Thanos through rectal invasion would have cheapened years of character development.
  • The MCU likely won’t revise Thanos’ death, and Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom won’t undermine the Infinity Saga.

In “Avengers: Endgame”, the initial story arc of the Marvel Cinematic Universe reached its final chapter as the franchise’s most remarkable hero sacrificed himself to vanquish the universe’s deadliest foe. Since then, enthusiasts have been searching for alternative outcomes, and one in particular has left a deeper impression compared to others.

Throughout the Infinity Saga, The Avengers encountered numerous adversaries, culminating in the unveiling of Thanos as the greatest menace. With ambitions to salvage the universe by eliminating half its population, he posed a significant danger to everything the heroes believed in. Powerful and armed with the infinity stones, Thanos executed his plan at the end of “Avengers: Infinity War,” surviving a lethal attack from Thor while taunting the Asgardian. However, in “Endgame,” Thanos was ultimately vanquished in a dramatic finale that initially intended to see all original Avengers perish; instead, it ended with Iron Man sacrificing himself alone.

Following numerous evil actions, defeating Thanos was considered an essential duty that Dave Bautista’s character Drax felt should have been his responsibility instead. However, Drax didn’t get many chances, unlike other characters. While Thanos scolded Chris Hemsworth’s Thor for missing a headshot during the climax of Infinity War, many fans have criticized other Avengers, particularly Paul Rudd‘s Ant-Man. A popular theory among fans, called ‘Thanus,’ suggests that Ant-Man could have ended Thanos by shrinking down to an appropriate size and entering his body through the rectum before growing to giant size, thereby defeating him instantly. When Comicbook asked Rudd about this in a recent interview, he admitted that he had contemplated it. However, as there are numerous reasons why this plan would not have worked, Rudd questioned if Ant-Man could have actually stopped Thanos in this manner, considering that at that point, he might have had the Space Stone or another Infinity Stone. Indeed, there are many ways this idea would quickly fall apart, given that even Falcon’s earthbound technology could track Ant-Man’s small form and the power of most of the Infinity Stones in Thanos’ possession.

Regardless of how it might have unfolded, reducing Thanos to a mere joke after all the intricate character development and genuine sorrow he’d portrayed in cinema would be an unprecedented letdown. Such an outcome would likely be the most disappointing scenario for Thanos across the board. Yet, both Bautista and Rudd, along with many others, continue to contemplate how Thanos met his end post-facto. This concept has become so widespread that it’s been brought up during discussions about the franchise’s upcoming projects. There are whispers that the next major antagonist in the MCU will eliminate Thanos to assert himself as a threat. However, this has been executed effectively in the comics and even under the “What If…?” banner without any significant impact. The current Thanos in the MCU holds far more value for the franchise with his legacy preserved. It’s highly probable that Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom will find an alternative way to make his mark without diminishing the Avengers’ hard-earned victory at the conclusion of the Infinity Saga.

Following the latest effort to dethrone him, it’s evident that Thanos proved a superior MCU antagonist compared to Kang, setting a tough standard that Victor Von Doom might not meet merely by eliminating a different version of the character. Fans generally concur that the Infinity Saga’s conclusion was the optimal outcome and should be preserved untouched without any rewrites or attempts to weaken it. Given Rudd’s readiness and capability, there remains a possibility he’ll face the upcoming major adversary again, but it’s highly unlikely this encounter will happen in flashbacks.

The Avengers films are available to stream on Disney+.

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2025-03-25 17:14