• News
  • Reviews
  • Features
    • Articles and Long Reads
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
  • Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Flickering Myth Films
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on FlickeringMyth.com
    • Write for Flickering Myth

Flickering Myth

Film & TV News, Reviews and Features

  • Movies
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Long Reads
  • Trending
  • Franchises
    • Marvel
    • DC
    • Batman
    • Star Wars
    • Transformers
    • G.I. Joe
    • Masters of the Universe
    • Street Fighter
    • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
    • Star Trek
    • The Lord of the Rings
    • James Bond
    • Alien
    • Predator
    • Doctor Who
    • Harry Potter

Captain America: Civil War screenwriters explain why Thanos was absent

May 12, 2016 by Amie Cranswick

With Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe set to culminate in the big showdown between Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War, you’d be forgiven for expecting to see a few more glimpses of the Mad Titan before the two-part epic gets underway. However, that wasn’t the case with Captain America: Civil War, and speaking to Verge screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely have explained why they decided against another tease in the MCU’s latest offering.

Christopher Markus: Well, I mean, he’s going to have two movies…

Stephen McFeely: Seriously!

Markus: So we didn’t want to play him out and then have people be like, “Eh, more of this guy…”

McFeely: “Yet again, they gave me 45 seconds of Thanos!” That does nobody any good. The Civil War story is about this group breaking up on their own accord, and they do not need to be helped by the guy from space.

Markus: We also wanted [Civil War] to be a very kind of boots-on-the-ground, grounded movie that set the stage for Infinity War, that sets all the Avengers apart from each other and at their weakest point. So that when this giant purple man does show up, they’re not ready for it.

In all honestly, it wouldn’t really have made much sense for Thanos to appear in Civil War, and according to James Gunn, he won’t be appearing in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 either. Do you think we’ll see him again before Infinity War, and where might he feature? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…

Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.

SEE ALSO: Follow all of our Marvel Cinematic Universe coverage here

Captain America: Civil War sees Anthony and Joe Russo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) directing a cast that includes Marvel Cinematic Universe veterans Chris Evans (Steve Rogers/Captain America), Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark/Iron Man), Anthony Mackie (Sam Wilson/Falcon), Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton/Hawkeye), Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow), Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier), Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch), Paul Bettany (The Vision), Don Cheadle (James Rhondes/War Machine), Paul Rudd (Scott Lang/Ant-Man), Emily VanCamp (Sharon Carter), Frank Grillo (Brock Rumlow/Crossbones) and William Hurt (General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross) alongside new additions Chadwick Boseman (Get on Up) as T’Challa/Black Panther, Daniel Bruhl (Rush) as Baron Zemo, Tom Holland (The Impossible) as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and Martin Freeman (Sherlock) as Everett Ross.

. url=”.” . width=”100%” height=”150″ iframe=”true” /]

https://youtu.be/b7Ozs5mj5ao?list=PL18yMRIfoszEaHYNDTy5C-cH9Oa2gN5ng

Originally published May 12, 2016. Updated April 15, 2018.

Filed Under: Gary Collinson, Movies, News Tagged With: Avengers: Infinity War, Captain America: Civil War, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe

About Amie Cranswick

Amie Cranswick is Executive Editor of Flickering Myth, responsible for overseeing editorial coverage across film, television and pop culture.

WATCH OUR LATEST VIDEO HERE

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

The Worst Omissions in the 2026 Oscar Nominations

Movies That Actually Really Need A Remake!

The Bourne Difference: The Major Book vs Movie Changes

Ranking The Police Academy Franchise From Worst to Best

Great Director’s Cuts That Are Better Than The Original Theatrical Versions

The Essential Action Movies From Cannon Films

The Most Overlooked Horror Movies of the 1990s

What Will Amazon Do with James Bond?

7 Bizarre 80s Horror Movies You Need to See

Captain America: Civil War at 10 – The Story Behind the Marvel Studios Blockbuster

FEATURED POSTS:

8 Essential Beer Movies

The Top 10 The X-Files Episodes

DC Multiverse Atrocitus & Red Lantern Corps 2-pack unveiled by McFarlane Toys

Transformers Optimus Prime & Autobot Jazz Cereal Box Set launches pre-orders from Hasbro

Movie Review – Nimrods (2026)

Movie Review – The Birthday Party (2026)

Which Star Is Winning 2026?

The Mummy 4 sets more returning cast and new additions

FLICKERING MYTH FILMS

   

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Bookended Brilliance: Directors with Great First and Last Films

10 Essential Modern Survival Horror Films

Cannibal Holocaust on Trial: When Prosecutors Thought They Found a Snuff Movie

The Kings of Cool

  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
    • Articles and Long Reads
    • Interviews
    • Exclusives
  • Pop Culture
    • Movies
    • Television
    • Comic Books
    • Video Games
    • Toys & Collectibles
  • Flickering Myth Films
  • About
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on FlickeringMyth.com
    • Write for Flickering Myth

© Flickering Myth Limited. All rights reserved. The reproduction, modification, distribution, or republication of the content without permission is strictly prohibited. Movie titles, images, etc. are registered trademarks / copyright their respective rights holders. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. If you can read this, you don't need glasses.


 

Flickering MythLogo Header Menu
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Movies
  • Features and Long Reads
  • Trending
  • Franchises
    • Marvel
    • DC
    • Batman
    • Star Wars
    • Transformers
    • G.I. Joe
    • Masters of the Universe
    • Street Fighter
    • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
    • Star Trek
    • The Lord of the Rings
    • James Bond
    • Alien
    • Predator
    • Doctor Who
    • Harry Potter
  • Flickering Myth Films
  • About Flickering Myth
    • About Flickering Myth
    • Advertise on Flickering Myth
    • Write for Flickering Myth