Avengers: Endgame saw Thanos succumb to the very fate that he would had in his mind for the universe. Tony Stark used the Infinity Stones to dust Thanos and his army, saving humanity from complete annihilation. However, a new theory has emerged, pointing towards key details of the following phases that might point to a different victory at the end of Avengers: Endgame.
In Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos’s original goal was to snap half the life in the universe, so that there could be enough resources for those who survive. However, after seeing the Avengers try to bring everyone back, Thanos amended his plan to shred the universe down to its last atom and then create a new world that will always know plenty. However, this plan is thwarted at the last moment by Tony Stark.
Or was it?
Thanos created his new world, as promised
A new theory suggests that the Mad Titan went through with his plan, and decided to create a utopia where people don’t lose their sense of purpose but live a relatively easier life than they did before. This would have occurred when Thanos snapped his gauntlet in the middle of the battle, with the rest of the entries in the franchise post that moment being set in Thanos’s new world.
Essentially, Thanos has been using the reality stone to create an approximation of the world as it was, while new developments happen as they would have. Except, big conflicts and events happen, and then ‘stop existing’ when they are not in focus. This might be the way in which Thanos ‘renders’ his universe, bringing things into focus when they are part of the narrative, and letting them slip into the background when there is no need to reference them (such as the Celestial sticking out of the Indian Ocean, or the destroyed the Statue of Liberty.)
This is further corroborated by the fact that antagonists in stories have been much more reasonable in their approach, having nobler intentions, and hence being allowed to go forth with their plans. Throughout the MCU, we are yet to see a villain be defeated on screen by the direct actions of the villain, post Endgame. The only time this rule is broken is in Spider-Man: No Way Home when an extradimensional entity causes a death, something that would perhaps be out of Thanos’ purview.
Thanos could be the new Beyonder
If the theory holds, and Thanos is actually in charge of the universe, he might have ascended to a multiversal-level being, looking after a host of timelines and universe, and making sure that they are well sustained, with the minimal amount of adversity to allow progress to happen. Further, he could have it out for the Avengers, whom he was vindictive about, in stark contrast to his older self, which might be the reason that some Avengers (such as Spider-Man and Black Panther) cannot seem to catch a break.
It must also be noted that characters that cause multiversal problems are quickly removed from the board, such as Doctor Strange, Wanda Maximoff, and even Monica Rambeau. It is almost as if another universe breaking into this created reality might destroy the illusion, making it difficult for him to maintain it.
The Mad Titan might serve as an antagonist in Secret Wars, where the object is to reshape reality, as incursions tear the universe he has created apart, creating Battleworld.
