Infinity War Director Wants Thanos to Be This Generation’s Darth Vader

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has set the bar in many ways for comic book movies over the past decade, but one area where the MCU’s track record is less than sparkling is its villains. Co-director of Avengers: Infinity War Joe Russo hopes to remedy this, saying that he and his fellow director, Anthony Russo, want to create a villain as iconic as Darth Vader in Thanos.

Speaking with Comic Book Movie, Russo explained that they want Thanos to become the most illustrious villain for the current generation of moviegoers. “Darth Vader was the pre-eminent villain of my childhood, and we’re hoping to make a Darth Vader for a new generation,” said Russo. “We’re hoping he has that complexity to him, and that he strikes fear into the heart of the audience, but at the same time they go on a journey with him. Frankly, Avengers 3 is his movie.”

To back it up, Russo commented on a scene from the unreleased Comic-Con trailer in which Thanos destroys a moon, saying: “That’s one of many things Thanos does in this film. He’s an incredible threat!” Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has also teased in the past that “within the first five minutes of Infinity War, people will understand why Thanos is the biggest and baddest villain in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”

Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, Avengers: Infinity War stars Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Anthony Mackie as the Falcon, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man and Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch, among others. The film opens May 4.