Josh Brolin has declined to rule out Thanos returning in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, sidestepping a direct question about the villain's fate while promoting his new Ridley Scott film, The Dog Stars. Speaking to Collider, the actor pivoted from Marvel speculation into a broader reflection on real-world crises, suggesting Thanos's population-culling logic "was not necessarily wrong" given the scale of environmental destruction he sees today. His comments keep alive fan speculation about a possible Thanos appearance in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, without confirming anything concrete.

In The Dog Stars, Brolin plays Bangley, a survivalist helping Jacob Elordi's character endure a post-apocalyptic world devastated by a deadly virus, alongside co-stars Margaret Qualley, Benedict Wong, Allison Janney and Guy Pearce. Brolin drew parallels between the fictional apocalypse and real-world anxieties, citing Tom Hanks's COVID-19 diagnosis as a moment that crystallised public fear of societal collapse. He argued that responsibility for environmental harm lies more with governments than individuals, and noted China's renewable energy progress as an example of "forward-moving" action, before also discussing reuniting with director Ridley Scott 20 years after American Gangster.