Josh Brolin Discusses Who Would Win in a Fight Between Thanos and Doctor Doom

Laura Bais
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The debate over who reigns as Marvel’s ultimate villain has kept fans engaged for years. For over a decade, one purple-skinned Titan held that title with little competition. Now, with a new formidable foe on the horizon, the prospect of a Thanos versus Doctor Doom showdown has become the matchup everyone is eager to resolve.

Thanos served as the primary antagonist in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame’, where he eliminated half of Earth’s population before meeting his demise. Tony Stark sacrificed himself to erase the Mad Titan and his forces from existence. Meanwhile, Robert Downey Jr., who portrayed Tony, is set to return to the MCU as Victor von Doom in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’.

At New York Comic Con 2026, Josh Brolin, the actor behind Thanos, was asked if he would like to see a clash between Thanos and Doctor Doom. He mentioned that he had previously discussed such scenarios with Downey and expressed his enthusiasm for witnessing a different version of it, adding that who wouldn’t want to see that battle.

When asked to choose a winner, Brolin opted to remain neutral. He suggested that it might not matter what he thinks and encouraged fans to keep the outcome a mystery.

Brolin was in attendance to promote ‘Whalefall’, where he plays the father of Austin Abrams’ scuba diver character. He also shared with Polygon that any potential confrontation with Downey excites him. He expressed his admiration for his former co-star taking on the role and his eagerness to see ‘Doomsday’.

Comic book fans already have a definitive answer. In the 2015 ‘Secret Wars’ storyline, Doom harnesses the powers of the Beyonders and rules Battleworld as God Emperor Doom. When Thanos challenges him, Doom eliminates him by tearing out his spine and skull.

However, the movie adaptation may not be as straightforward. GamesRadar suggested that a Doom at standard power levels would struggle against an unarmed Thanos and stand little chance against one wielding the Infinity Gauntlet. The analysis also noted that Marvel could still allow Doom to emerge victorious, simply to highlight the threat posed by its new villain.

Currently, there is no official confirmation regarding Thanos’s appearance in ‘Doomsday’, and Brolin is not listed among the announced cast. There were rumors of him being in talks to return, likely for ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’, but Marvel has yet to comment.

Nonetheless, speculation continues to rise. Marketing for ‘Doomsday’ has hinted that Doom defeated Thanos in an alternate reality. Additionally, ‘Avengers Endgame: Encore’ depicted Doom traversing the multiverse and recruiting powerful figures, making a Thanos variant a plausible character addition.

Brolin has kept the possibility open without fully committing. He mentioned that Thanos would need to fit into the story if he were to return, and at NYCC, he responded to a question about ‘Doomsday’ with a vague maybe. He also told ComicBook that if a return happens, it happens, and that he enjoyed playing the character.

‘Avengers: Doomsday’ is set to hit theaters on December 18. It will feature a confrontation between the Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and Wakandans against Downey’s Doctor Doom. Following that, ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ is scheduled for December 17, 2027, which many fans anticipate will be the stage for any potential Thanos showdown.

For now, Brolin’s playful non-answer serves as perfect fodder for the ongoing debate. By not declaring a victor, he has granted fans the freedom to continue arguing. With Doom poised to take over Thanos’ title as the Avengers’ greatest foe, the question of who is stronger is sure to linger.

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