Marvel Has One Huge Unrevealed Thanos Story
Thanos' backstory has yet to be explored in its entirety in the MCU. Most of the iconic stories that appear in the comic have been adapted to the big screen in the MCU, such as character origin stories andlarge-scale battles between heroes and villains, as well as some of the biggest events that have taken place over time,butnot the entire backstory for Thanos has ever been shown on film.
The Tragedy of Titan in Infinity War
In Infinity War, Thanos tells us that he is a native of Titan, the former home of the Eternals and other people who thrived there until they met their demise due to a population crisis. When he was questioning the environment around him about what could be done to save it, there was a debate about whether to kill half of everyone to save the planet to regenerate itself. The destruction that came from this inaction ultimately contributed to his decision-making process.
Though he shared his suggestions with Titan's leaders and people, they pushed him out and deemed him dangerous. Unfortunately, Titan was eventually destroyed anyway, and Thanos was one of only a few remaining survivors at the time. This tragedy reinforced Thanos' belief in the veracity of his brutal theories. With that confirmation now based on experience, Thanos began looking for ways to use the Infinity Stones' power to destroy 50% of all life to avoid a similar fate for the remaining planets and their people (which created the events surrounding the Infinity War and Endgame).
The MCU Hasn't Quite Told This Story
Even though there's been some exposition of Thanos' past through dialogue, the MCU hasn't actually portrayed any of these events from Thanos' backstory. The fall of Titan is an untold story. The political tension surrounding Thanos' philosophy before he was in a position to implement it is untold. The story about when Thanos became convinced he needed to carry out his mission is another story that hasn't been told.
A movie about this time period could tell the story of Thanos (as opposed to the traditional superhero movie) as the main character of his own tragic story. The film would tell the story of a collapsing world, a controversial philosopher, and the moment that desperation turned into obsession.
Reasons Why There May Never Be A Movie Telling The "Origin" Of Thanos
There has always been the potential for Marvel Studios to explore Thanos’ backstory, but currently, the studio is focused mainly on the Multiverse Saga. New films and series are introducing brand new heroes and exploring alternate timelines/realities. Therefore, because Thanos’ “origin” film would actually be a prequel to an already completed storyline, it may not fit within Marvel’s current growth and direction.
However, given that Thanos has become one of the most memorable villains in the MCU since his appearance as the primary antagonist of the Infinity War film, telling his story might create excitement among the fans of the character who have followed him since his debut in Guardians Of The Galaxy. Furthermore, telling this story could remind the audience of why The Infinity Saga became one of the largest cultural moments in film.
