Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) have long debated the infamous 'Thanus' theory—that Ant-Man, played by Paul Rudd, could have defeated Thanos by shrinking down and entering the villain's body before expanding to a giant size to obliterate him from within. This ludicrous yet comical notion, which blossomed during the lead-up to Avengers: Endgame, continues to surface in discussions about how the greatest heroes could have vanquished one of cinema's most notorious villains.
In the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, where the Avengers faced their ultimate foe, Thanos was ultimately defeated through Iron Man's heroic sacrifice. Yet, with the resources of the internet, fans have taken to elaborate on alternate scenarios—none more memorable than the 'Thanus' theory. This theory became a topic of interest when Rudd himself was recently asked about it in an interview with ComicBook.
During the promotion of his film Death of a Unicorn, slated for release on March 28, Rudd took a moment to humorously ponder the feasibility of the idea. "I often wonder, though, could he really have stopped Thanos in that way? Because didn’t he, at that point, have the Space Stone or whatever?" His reflection notes that by the time of the showdown in Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos was nearly invincible with the assembled Infinity Stones.
Rudd engaged his co-star Jenna Ortega in the discussion, trying to explain the concept of the 'Thanus' theory to someone seemingly unaware of the intricate details of the MCU. Ortega attempted to grasp the absurdity, recalling Rudd’s character. "I thought he was already big … the purple one?" to which Rudd whimsically replied, "I get really small." Their exchange was not only entertaining but illustrative of how deeply embedded the meme-like theory is within fan culture.
The 'Thanus' theory escalated into a light-hearted debate among fans, some suggesting that had Ant-Man taken the plunge, it would have irreparably tarnished Thanos's character development—a much more profound inconvenience for the characters than a simple gag. Critics argue that such a conclusion would lessen the impact of Thanos, who had already solidified his place in film history as a complex villain with believable motivations. Would a ludicrous defeat through rectal invasion undermine the entire thematic weight of the Infinity Saga?
Furthermore, Dave Bautista, who plays Drax, expressed disappointment that his character didn't finish Thanos himself. This pride resonates with fan insistence that major stakes defined the series. Rudd reaffirmed the wealth of possibilities offered by the Infinity Saga and conveyed reluctance amongst the cast and crew to minimize the foe through a joke. After all, a slow extinguishment of well-crafted characters is part of why so many fan theories thrive online.
Furthermore, previews of the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday suggest that the franchise is poised to address major conflicts with the Mad Titan. Earlier this month, the directors of previous Avengers films, the Russo Brothers, voiced reservations about returning to direct again. "Then Robert tried to talk us into doing [Doomsday and Secret Wars], and we said ‘no,’” Joe Russo recounted in an interview. “We just didn’t have a story. We didn’t have a way in. We were resistant for a while.” However, innovative concepts may have sparked the brothers’ return as they pieced together plans for the next saga in the MCU.
Anticipation builds as fans speculate on the return of their beloved heroes in the sequels, with the tables apparently turning again; it's rumored that Doctor Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr., may soon take the mantle of the principal antagonist. Despite the inevitable changes in villain dynamics, fans are firm in their views that the legacy of Thanos must not be undermined or rewritten, fueling a passionate debate over how the beloved franchise navigates the next chapter.
None of the developments erase the chuckle-inducing popularity of the 'Thanus' theory. Though the thought of ridiculing a cinematically rich history using such an absurd method feels unsettling, the takeaway remains that fans enjoy theorizing and engaging with their favorite stories. Whether they are discussing the absurdity of Ant-Man's potential strategies or examining the direction of the MCU, it's a testament to how far-reaching these narratives stretch. The MCU retains the hearts of audiences, who eagerly await the next thrilling installment, even if that includes dissecting the humorous angles of its lore.
Despite discussions of Ant-Man's future remaining hazy after the underwhelming performance of Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, fans still express hope for his return in ensemble titles like Doomsday or Secret Wars. The roadmap of Ant-Man's chapters in the MCU remain uncertain, but it's clear that while his methods may remain debated, his role as a fan favorite assures that he'll remain a key figure in future MCU discussions.
