Benedict Cumberbatch inspired Josh Brolin to take on the role of Thanos

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

I'd imagine that it would be quite intimidating to take on the role of the biggest, baddest dude in the universe, but after several small cameos, Josh Brolin absolutely nailed Thanos in AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR; however, there was a time when the actor wasn't sure whether or not he wanted to take it on. While speaking on Entertainment Weekly Radio, Josh Brolin said that because he'd never done a motion-capture character before, he needed to do some research before he made his final decision.

It was at this time when Josh Brolin came across a video of Benedict Cumberbatch acting out scenes for THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG in his Smaug mo-cap suit.

He was in this mo-cap suit, and he’s crawling around like a snake, snapping his tongue out doing this incredible performance. I saw that and was like, all right, that’s the bar. This is not like bullshit. This is something that you…have to sink your teeth into, conviction, embarrassment, and all this kind of stuff. Then I decided yeah.

So it looks like we have Benedict Cumberbatch to thank for unintentionally inspiring Josh Brolin to play Thanos in AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR. "I'd never anything like that, mo-cap," Brolin said. "I thought I was going to be behind a bunch of lights and a bunch of cameras, and it wasn't like that, it was practical, working with people. It's a phenomenal process." Our next encounter with Thanos will arrive with the as-yet-untitled AVENGERS 4 on May 3, 2019.