AVENGERS: ENDGAME - Disney Surprisingly Acknowledges Thanos "Butt" Meme For New Cruise Video

AVENGERS: ENDGAME - Disney Surprisingly Acknowledges Thanos "Butt" Meme For New Cruise Video

Before Avengers: Endgame released, a theory surfaced about Ant-Man crawling inside Thanos to kill him. Now, Disney has addressed the unusual meme in an MCU show for an upcoming Disney cruise.

By DanielKlissmman - Jun 30, 2022 08:06 AM EST
Filed Under: Avengers: Endgame

Leading up to the release of Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, theories were running rampant about how Earth's Mightiest Heroes would take down the Mad Titan Thanos once and for all. One of the most (jokingly) popular ideas centered around Ant-Man shrinking down and climing into the villain's anus before growing back to full size (or Giant-Man size just to make sure).

The theory, dubbed "Thanus," became an internet sensation with multiple memes doing the rounds. Now, five years after it originated, Disney and Ant-Man himself have acknowledged the theory in an unexpected piece of media: Avengers: Quantum Encounter for the Disney Wish cruise.

Quantum Encounter is a show that's part of "Worlds of Marvel," a dining experience aboard the cruise that features exclusive live-action sequences starring some of the MCU's most famous heroes, including Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, Captain America, The Wasp and Ant-Man. It's one of those scenes that Marvel Studios took fans by surprise with by openly discussing the meme. 

In a video featuring Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly as Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne, Lang greets the audience and addresses the "Thanus" theory (the full video of the experience tour can be watched on YouTube at this link): 

Lang states: 

"Hi, I'm Scott Lang, but you might know me as Ant-Man. [...] Look, before we start, let me address the elephant in the room. I've heard a lot of chatter out there asking why I didn't shrink down, go in and, uh... kill Thanos in a really creative way. First of all, gross. Secondly, it's much more complicated than that. Allow me to explain --"

The hero is promptly interrupted by Hope before he's able to continue. But there you have it, folks, Ant-Man himself has explained why killing the Mad Titan by crawling inside him was simply not an option. 

For Paul Rudd, this is actually his second time discussing "Thanus." During an appearance in The Graham Norton Show to promote Avengers: Endgame, the actor was asked about the theory, to which he replied:

"Yeah, a lot of people have asked me recently if I shrink down and go — the theory is called the "Thanus Theory" — into Thanos in a certain orifice, and then grow giant-sized. [...] But why not the ear, or the nose? Why does it have to be...?"

"Thanus" has proven to have a surprising longevity. Even five years after its creation, The Boys showrunner Erik Kripke revealed to Variety that it inspired a key sequence in the Season 3 episode "Payback," which involved a superhero going into his lover's penis and accidentally killing him by growing large. 

Pleasing a Fanbase

Mentioning "Thanus" in Quantum Encounter isn't the first time Marvel Studios and Disney have entertained superhero fans' desires. John Krasinski was brought in to play Dr. Reed Richards for a brief put pivotal scene in 2022's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, after years of viewers clamoring for him to take on the role. 

In the Doctor Strange 2 director's commentary (via CBR.com), Director Sam Raimi commented on how fan-casting inspired Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige to bring Krasinski into the Marvel fold: 

"It's so funny that [Feige] cast John, because the fans had a dream of who the perfect Reed Richards would be. [...] And because this is an alternate universe, I think Kevin said, 'Let's make that dream come true.'"

Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne will return to the big screen in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, scheduled to release on February 17, 2023. The Disney Wish cruise will set sail on July 14, 2022.  

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bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 6/30/2022, 8:06 AM
No way did they really did that on a [frick]ing Disney Cruise. That's too good, but won't get me aboard one. I'll just stick to regular cruises.

Anyway, it does feel very much in line with Scott's character to actually go into it. Into the mechanics of it I mean, not into a certain orivice.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 6/30/2022, 9:15 AM
@bkmeijer1 -
"it does feel very much in line with Scott's character to actually go into it. Into the mechanics of it I mean, not into a certain orivice"

Actually, doing so would completely fit his character and serve as a nod towards the comic portrayal of Ant-Man.

Ant-Man's primary method of defeating or subduing characters it to shrink down and enter the suit or armour of the individual. He did this with Yellowjacket, Falcon and Iron Man - even at a most basic level he should attempt to do something similar to Thanos, even if it was just to damage his armour enough for another Avenger to get a strike on him.

It makes complete sense for something like Ant-Man going up the butt and expanding to happen and to an extent could be viewed as foreshadowed by Thor's team travelling into the Devil's Anus in Thor: Ragnarok. Can already imagine Thor (Taika style) remarking on his recent adventure and it inspiring Ant-Man before everyone looks at him disgusted.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 6/30/2022, 9:36 AM
@Scarilian - it does feel like something he could do, but like he says it's pretty gross. Shrinking down and messing around between cables and mechanical pieces is a whole different playing field than messing around in Thanos dung
Fogs
Fogs - 6/30/2022, 11:15 AM
@Scarilian - IF I'm not mistaken Feige said Scott would simply be crushed himself when attempting to grow back.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 6/30/2022, 8:11 AM
Lmao! They really acknowledged this on a Disney Cruise. Rudd too funny.
Fogs
Fogs - 6/30/2022, 11:15 AM
@GhostDog - I really wish that podcast they mentioned in Ms Marvel was real, lol.
GhostDog
GhostDog - 6/30/2022, 11:40 AM
@Fogs - Something tells me Marvel could make it real at some point lol
TheOverseer
TheOverseer - 6/30/2022, 8:13 AM
"It's so funny that [Feige] cast John, because the fans had a dream of who the perfect Reed Richards would be. [...] And because this is an alternate universe, I think Kevin said, 'Let's make that dream come true.'"

However we’re gonna take a dump on him and make him the dumbest man alive. Tee Hee.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 6/30/2022, 9:05 AM
@TheOverseer -
Not only that, but he's not going to be MCU Reed Richards - despite him arguably fitting the iconic look of the character.

MCU Reed is most likely going to be black so idiots in the audience won't ask questions when they acknowledge he is related to Kang.
DoubleD
DoubleD - 6/30/2022, 8:26 AM
Superspecialawesomeguy
Superspecialawesomeguy - 6/30/2022, 8:26 AM
OT : Barbara Broccoli Says Next James Bond Film could be at least Two Years Away From Production and that they're going to "Reinvent" him.

https://deadline.com/2022/06/james-bond-daniel-craig-next-007-reinventing-barbara-broccoli-1235053969/
marvel72
marvel72 - 6/30/2022, 8:34 AM
@Superspecialawesomeguy - So it's going to be race or gender swap.
MosquitoFarmer
MosquitoFarmer - 6/30/2022, 9:00 AM
@marvel72 - Of course there is going to be a comment like this.
Superspecialawesomeguy
Superspecialawesomeguy - 6/30/2022, 9:17 AM
@marvel72 - Not necessarily, but I do fear that they might over-complicate a situation that really isn't that complicated imo.

Just cast Henry Cavill and watch the money roll in lol.


Scarilian
Scarilian - 6/30/2022, 9:18 AM
@MosquitoFarmer -
A majority of the time that's what "re-invent" means in the context of film reboots.
MosquitoFarmer
MosquitoFarmer - 6/30/2022, 9:20 AM
@Scarilian - It's not strictly about the comment, but the potential notion behind it.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 6/30/2022, 9:20 AM
@Superspecialawesomeguy -
He works as an action hero and he's got the physicality, but I think he'd be too similar to Craig.

Honestly, they'll probably go Young Bond and do a trilogy of how he becomes the Bond we know.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 6/30/2022, 9:35 AM
@MosquitoFarmer -
Trying to delve into 'potential notion' intended by the commentator in my experience generally results in speculation and a higher level of mislabeling. I've seen a lot of people label others under DC fans or Marvel fans due to this mindset rather than seeing if the comment they make has anything to support it or explain why it was made.

Personally I'm just taking the remark at face value and evaluating what the context of the remark is in regards to the film industry. In this case that'd be linking 're-invent' to 'race/gender swaps'

I looked for similar scenarios where re-invent was used and found them using the term for quite a few new franchises which would fit the 'race/gender swap' category, though admittedly that probably lies in people defaulting to the term as opposed to a direct connection.

As such I disagree with the overall sentiment that re-invent automatically means to race/gender swap, however can understand why someone would lean to that being the case - when also taken into context with the discussion of a female or non-white Bond that was promoted by the media before 'No Time To Die'
MosquitoFarmer
MosquitoFarmer - 6/30/2022, 9:50 AM
@Scarilian - Of course, but on this site as of late, that "potential notion" has been highly prevelant, and it's really getting old.
The Craig films in their own right was a reinvention, and can still be argued the best Bond we've had yet.
Superspecialawesomeguy
Superspecialawesomeguy - 6/30/2022, 9:51 AM
@Scarilian - I think the he could be the opposite tbh, if you've seen The Man from U.N.C.L.E. he can definitely play a more lighthearted smoother and more charming spy than Craig could.

Fogs
Fogs - 6/30/2022, 11:17 AM
@Superspecialawesomeguy - Damn. Not gay but shit, this man is handsome.
Superspecialawesomeguy
Superspecialawesomeguy - 6/30/2022, 11:26 AM
@Fogs -
Knightrider
Knightrider - 6/30/2022, 6:21 PM
@Superspecialawesomeguy - Every decade or so, basically when they cast a new actor, it is a reinvention. It is why the character and movies have lasted as long as it has because it updates.

You couldn’t do a Moore era movie today as wouldn’t work, well it would work as a parody.

What will be interesting is will they do an origin again? I hope not. I did like how Craig’s movies addressed his role in a digital world, so maybe a ‘Bond from IT’ might work
dragon316
dragon316 - 6/30/2022, 9:00 AM
For Disney owns marvel gross and to violent be r rating could have went down mouth still like to see it happen in comics
TheSuperMex
TheSuperMex - 6/30/2022, 9:02 AM
The cheek busting should be in What If… season 2.
Scarilian
Scarilian - 6/30/2022, 9:12 AM
The remark about the expanding inside Thanos while a meme is also an open critique of how they established aspects of these characters that would have been really useful but are too creatively inept to actually deliver on what they have established.
comicfan100
comicfan100 - 6/30/2022, 10:17 AM
This was like a mini Avengers film. Seems like a tease at the dynamic we'll see between these characters when they eventually team up in the film. I'm expecting this team, in particular, to be the one we see at the beginning of The Marvels.
ptick
ptick - 6/30/2022, 11:10 AM
Really surprised that the article is about THIS and not that they presented all of the following in a cruise ship show prior to it happening in any films/D+ shows:

1) Sam's first interactions with other Avengers as Captain America
2) Ms Marvel in action in her own costume
3) Ms Marvel fan-girling in person over Carol, interacting with other Avengers for the first time
4) Ms Marvel being called an Avenger(!)

Since they used the actual actors for this, it's hard to sell this as being outside MCU canon. Clearly, at some point, Sam/Scott/Hope/Kamala will be part of the Avengers going forward and Carol will still be someone who only shows up to Earth part-time and otherwise stays in space (which seems to be the MCU's way of addressing why Carol doesn't just end 99% of fights on Earth in like five seconds). Ultron being back is ... well, I don't know what to say about that. Are they really going to go that route? Seems an odd choice here if not, when they could have filled in with generic baddy robots.
Fogs
Fogs - 6/30/2022, 11:19 AM
@ptick - I'd be down for an Ultron comeback. His lifespan was waaaay too short IMO, like many other villains'.
OmegaDaGrodd
OmegaDaGrodd - 6/30/2022, 11:29 AM
Seeing the New Avengers banter between Cap, Cap and Kamala......



I forgot what this felt like
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