‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Co-Director Explains Thanos’ Lack of Armor

From the Avengers: Infinity War sizzle reel to his statue reveal with the Black Order at San Diego Comic-Con, Thanos was seen rocking some visibly lighter threads for his big-screen debut that doesn’t involve him sitting in a chair or in a post-credits scene. Co-director Joe Russo spoke on Thanos’ new look to IGN recently, pointing to the villain’s more “philosophical” outlook as the main reason.

“[Thanos] has a more casual approach in this film, and it’s very philosophical for him,” Russo said. “It’s part of his character definition. It’s a spiritual journey for him to collect the Stones, and one with which he doesn’t need armor. Once he starts acquiring the Stones, he doesn’t need armor in the same way he did when he was a war lord. It’s a very symbolic costume.”

Though many comic book readers may be used to Thanos’ regal garb, it would make sense for the The Mad Titan to go the sleeveless route when taking on the Avengers. For one, it’s like Russo said, Thanos is no longer moving pawns across a board to get what he wants — it’s time to ditch the fancy armor and get to work. Two, that’s a lot more breathing room and range of motion to “casually” throw down an entire planet at Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.  That was, of course, the big scene most people discussed after the Infinity War sizzle reel debuted at D23 and and SDCC. Surprisingly enough, Russo said that scene isn’t even in the third act of the movie.

“It’s a staggering level of scale in the films. Sometimes we’re working on the third act in this movie and I’m like, ‘How are we going to pull this off?’ It’s so big,” he said. “[Thanos] has this incredible power — he has universe altering power if he gets his hands on the Stones — so I think people are going to be surprised at the scale in the movie.”

Between Thanos wearing a muscle tee and Captain America growing out a beard, the battle over the universe looks to have a far more gritty approach than what some MCU fans are accustomed to — and it all hits the big screen on May 4, 2018.

Avengers: Infinity War is being directed by Joe and Anthony Russo with a script from Captain America: Winter Soldier writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. The film stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautisa, Bradley Cooper, and Vin Diesel as well as Pom Klementieff, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Tom Holland, Sebastian Stan, Chadwick Boseman, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hiddleston, Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin.

Source: IGN