Josh Brolin Talks Possible Thanos Return In AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY And Why He Doesn't Regret Saying No To LANTERNS

Josh Brolin Talks Possible Thanos Return In AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY And Why He Doesn't Regret Saying No To LANTERNS

Avengers: Infinity War star Josh Brolin confirms he would be open to reprising the role of Thanos in Doomsday (or Secret Wars), and confirms he doesn't regret turning down playing the DCU's Hal Jordan.

By JoshWilding - Aug 07, 2025 10:08 AM EST
Filed Under: Avengers

Josh Brolin first played Thanos in 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy, and later took centre stage in Avengers: Infinity War. The Mad Titan was the latter movie's lead in many ways, and while he was beheaded in the opening moments of Avengers: Endgame, the villain later returned as a Variant. 

Being snapped out of existence by Iron Man was where Thanos' story ended, though What If...? showed us that he still has plenty of Variants scattered throughout the Multiverse. We'll meet King Thanos as part of an upcoming Disneyland ride, but what about Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars

Talking to Josh Horowitz, Josh Brolin reflected on playing Thanos and confirmed that he'd happily reprise the role if the Russo Brothers come calling.

"There's a level of absurdity that I enjoy so much...I've said it a million times, but it goes back to black box theatre, where you have no money and you're pretending that this thing is a gun," the actor explained. "If you have enough conviction, people will actually start to think it's a gun. There was a level of that in [Avengers]."

"They were afraid it was gonna get out, so they would give us a phoney scene and then give us the real scene when we'd get there, which, to me, is hell. I can't prep, I'm thinking about the lines, and all this stuff, but it all worked out. That was supposed to be a cameo. When it was first brought to me, I was doing the Everest movie in London, and they brought me this huge bible, and it was just this little thin,g and I'd be in it for 10 minutes. They changed it. It turned into this whole thing."

"Deadpool 2, I was like, I was glad it was one experience. The Thanos thing, if they called me in London right now, and said, 'Let's do this,' I'd be like, 'I'll be there tomorrow,'" Brolin admitted. "I talk to Downey probably four to six times a year. I talk to the Russos probably four to six times a week. I talk to Joe a lot. I love both of them."

Sharing his take on what the Russo Brothers are bringing to the table with Doomsday and Secret Wars, the actor said, "Of course they're going to come up with something fun. Who knows? That was a 10-year in-the-building kind of thing, and that was its own bookended deal. I don't know what they're going to do, but I'm sure it will be interesting. I think they do that very, very well."

You may recall that DC Studios wanted Brolin to play Hal Jordan in the upcoming Lanterns TV series, though he was among a handful of actors who ultimately passed on the project before Kyle Chandler was cast. 

Asked which he most regrets turning down between that and working with James Cameron on Avatar (he later confirmed that he was up for Stephen Lang's role), Brolin replied, "[Laughs] James Cameron. I heard Green Lantern...I know it's Kyle Chander and Paula Patton, who I did a pilot with. I'm sure excited to see it. I can't wait to see it. I love Kyle Chander. I think he's solid. He's fantastic."

Paula Patton? Either the actor has gotten confused, or the Mission: Impossible franchise star has secretly been cast as Carol Ferris! We'll have to wait and see on that front, but it seems Brolin is far more interested in making an MCU return than joining the DCU. 

It's interesting that he once again alluded to not enjoying his Deadpool 2 experience, as that surely pours cold water on rumours that he will reunite with Ryan Reynolds as Cable in the actor's planned X-Force movie.

You can hear more from Brolin in the player below.

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tmp3
tmp3 - 8/7/2025, 10:39 AM
Laura Linney’s in the cast so I’ll assume she’s Carol Farris, especially w/ Chandler’s age. Patton maybe another role. Love Brolin but actually think Chandler might be better casting for Hal. Excited to see Weapons today!
tmp3
tmp3 - 8/7/2025, 10:49 AM
Pascal was meant to play the Brolin role in Weapons initially? They’re such vastly different actors haha
Matchesz
Matchesz - 8/7/2025, 10:52 AM
@tmp3 - they’ll cast Pedro as Frank Sinatra at this point
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 8/7/2025, 10:46 AM
Brolin was great as Thanos no doubt but I personally wouldn’t want the character back honestly , maybe as a variant but even that I can take it leave.

In regards to Lanterns , I’m glad Kyle Chandler ended up getting the role of Hal Jordan rather then Brolin since I feel the former fits the character better to me though we’ll see depending on the take they are going for.

If he is eventually interested in the DCU , I could see Brolin as Deathstroke or even Jim Gordon tbh!!.

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MisterBones
MisterBones - 8/7/2025, 10:50 AM
He would've been a damn good Hal no doubt. Even with the age.
Nomis929
Nomis929 - 8/7/2025, 11:09 AM
So Josh Brolin has portrayed- Jonah Hex, A younger Agent "K" in 'Men in Black 3', Cable, Thanos, Dwight in 'Sin City 2', and he was also Joe Doucett in 'OLDBOY' based off the Japanese manga series.

He might be the leading actor in comic book movies taking the lead over Chris Evans.

He might as well to go ahead and "fulfill his destiny" and Play DarkSeid!

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Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 8/7/2025, 12:12 PM
@Nomis929 - It'd be too obvious and similar to Thanos
Nomis929
Nomis929 - 8/7/2025, 1:08 PM
@Urubrodi - Nothing new, thats what was said when Thanos was created for the comics.
Urubrodi
Urubrodi - 8/7/2025, 1:17 PM
@Nomis929 - Yeah, but having the same actor would literally feel like Thanos 2.0, the character's voice, appearance and demeanor would be too similar. A new actor could provide a fresh take.
Matchesz
Matchesz - 8/7/2025, 11:17 AM
You guys ever notice they never make movies specifically about covid as if hollywoods trying to quietly sweep 5 years under the rug since the vaccine side effects and general crookedness got exposed. Because all these actors would’ve had to play themselves as the creepy villains 😂 Not Brolin though he’s a solid guy
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 8/7/2025, 11:24 AM
@Matchesz - watch Jodie Comer's film "Help."
Matchesz
Matchesz - 8/7/2025, 11:36 AM
@lazlodaytona - cool i’ll check it out, and Outer Range 👍🏼😎
noname
noname - 8/7/2025, 5:17 PM
@Matchesz - Yeah, all those people who were willing to rat out there friends and neighbors for not getting a jab wants everyone to just forget about that time. Pathetic. I'LL NEVER FORGET THE WAY PEOPLE WERE SO QUICKLY TO SCREW EACH OTHER OVER IN A TIME OF (PERCEIVED) CRISIS.

That should have taught everyone what people really are - selfish scum! I'll never forget that shit, but with time, most people will forget like it never happened. Fuk people. As a group, fuk everybody. Bunch of reactionary, backstabbing, phony, vaginal losers.

Turns out the Joker was right...
noname
noname - 8/7/2025, 5:41 PM
@Matchesz - User Comment Image
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 8/7/2025, 11:22 AM
I could care less about any of those roles. What matters to me most is the next season of his show "Outer Range."
Freakin' amazingly addictive series with great twists and concepts explored.
JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 8/7/2025, 2:13 PM
@lazlodaytona - I've been thinking of checking that out. you sold me.
SonOfAGif
SonOfAGif - 8/7/2025, 11:13 PM
@lazlodaytona - Outer Range and From are some of the most engaging sci-fi style shows currently.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 8/8/2025, 3:07 PM
@JacobsLadder - you definitely won't regret it
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 8/8/2025, 3:59 PM
@SonOfAGif - 😳O.M.G. I LOVE From!!! Freaking epic, sci-fi/horror series that can't start again soon enough with its 5th season.
I'd put Outer Range only a hair underneath it.
Both are just awesome.
marvel72
marvel72 - 8/7/2025, 11:41 AM
Of course he'll be back,They will bring back nearly every character from phases 1-3,you know peak MCU.
Wahhvacado
Wahhvacado - 8/7/2025, 11:58 AM
@marvel72 - I have no doubts he'll be back for at least a scene like this

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ImperiousRex
ImperiousRex - 8/7/2025, 1:11 PM
@Wahhvacado - Yup. A scene like this quickly establishes Doom as badass without a lot of exposition. Especially to the causual, non-comic book reading general audience. I suspect the same kind of short, devastating death scene will tie up Kang's loose ends.
Wahhvacado
Wahhvacado - 8/7/2025, 1:48 PM
@ImperiousRex - I'm rooting for this end for him

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Joking, they have a lot of loose ends and world building to make the movie work. I hope it pans out, especially with the quality being better the last few films, though with less financial success
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 8/7/2025, 12:34 PM
He was good as Cable, I wanna see him return to the role.
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 8/7/2025, 1:16 PM
@ModHaterSLADE - I'd rather he returned as Cable over Thanos if anything, not against the latter having a small cameo somewhere but they already used the variant card on that one once. If he appeared in a first act just to be killed by Doom single handed to show how dangerous a villain Doom is (rather an early Avengers or Xmen members death) fine but no more than that if at all.
ModHaterSLADE
ModHaterSLADE - 8/7/2025, 2:07 PM
@Apophis71 - Yeah, Thanos is great, but I think Cable needs more backstory.
Spike101
Spike101 - 8/7/2025, 1:24 PM
Maybe he’s not feeling having his spine pulled out by RDJ is a great thing….
JacobsLadder
JacobsLadder - 8/7/2025, 2:12 PM
As if End Game wasn't a bad enough sendoff for his character. Let him go ffs.
Corruptor
Corruptor - 8/7/2025, 6:17 PM
HARD REBOOT and do it right next time.

That was the start of the variant hell that we're now in.

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