MCU Theory: Eternals Explains How Thanos Had The Mind Stone

The Eternals could solve one of the last mysteries of the MCU's Infinity Saga - how Thanos acquired the Mind Stone. The first three phases of the MCU oriented around the Infinity Stones, objects of untold power that originated before creation itself. They were coveted by Thanos, the Mad Titan, in his insane quest to bring balance to the universe.

The story of the Infinity Stones appears to have come to an end in the present-day MCU. When Thanos succeeded in his mission, he subsequently destroyed the Infinity Stones with their own power in order to prevent anybody from undoing the horrors he had wrought. His act left Earth's surviving heroes no choice but to use time travel, collecting the Infinity Stones from earlier points in the timeline in order to reverse the snap.

The Infinity Stones may be gone, but that doesn't mean the MCU will ignore their past. Eternals seems to be, in part, something of a prequel to the MCU; the story will span 7,000 years, showing its immortal characters interacting with humans at different times in history. That means there is the potential to learn more about the Infinity Stones themselves.

The Infinity Stones Are Tied To The Celestials In The MCU

The Eternals are tied to an ancient race of beings known as the Celestials, powerful entities who appear to have a mysterious connection to the Infinity Stones. In Guardians of the Galaxy, the Collector claimed the Infinity Stones were originally singularities that survived the creation of the universe, and that they were "forged" into their current form. It's possible the Celestials were the ones who did the deed because certainly they have been associated with at least two Infinity Stones in the MCU so far. The Collector showed the Guardians a recording of a Celestial using the Power Stone to judge entire worlds and civilizations in days long ago; and in Avengers: Endgame, Nebula claimed the Soul Stone was concealed on Vormir, which she called "the center of Celestial civilization." If the Celestials were connected to two Infinity Stones, that surely means they could also have been tied to the others.

In the comics, the Celestials were also the ones who created the Eternals, an evolutionary offshoot of humanity. The origin story of the Eternals appears to have been changed in the MCU, but it still retains a link to the Celestials. Speaking at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, actor Kumail Nanjiani discussed the Eternals' origin in a little more detail; "We were sent to Earth thousands of years ago to protect Earth from these monsters, the Deviants," he explained. It appears the Celestials are the ones who sent the Eternals on their mission to Earth, although it is unclear whether they are the ones who also granted the Eternals their powers. It is quite possible, therefore, that the Infinity Stones are also involved in this story somehow.

Thanos' Eternals Connection Could Explain How He Got The Mind Stone

Thanos, too, has ties to the Eternals in the comics - and all the evidence suggests the MCU has chosen to preserve these connections. In the comics, Thanos was born on the Eternal colony of Titan, son of the renowned scientist A'lars. The story of Titan has been rewritten in the MCU - it was apparently ravaged by ecological disaster - but these basic ideas appear to have been retained. In Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos used the fate of his homeworld Titan to justify his insane mission. When he visited Vormir in order to acquire the Soul Stone, the Red Skull called him "Thanos, son of A'lars."

The MCU is clearly changing a lot of Eternals lore, so it's possible Titan is not the Eternals' colony in the movies - but rather is their homeworld. If that is the case, then Thanos is an Eternal just as in the comics. What is more, the link between the Celestials and the Eternals could well mean his people possessed an Infinity Stone - the Mind Stone, which was contained in an ancient scepter Thanos himself ultimately came to possess. Until now, the MCU has avoided telling this story, so it would be exciting to see that change.

This Would Explain Why Thanos' MCU Origin Was Rendered Non-Canon

This may explain one of Marvel's strangest decisions to date. 2018 saw the publication of Barry Lyga's novel Thanos: Titan Consumed, initially teased as the official MCU origin story of Thanos. It seems both the author and the publisher, Little, Brown and Company, believed the Thanos book to be canon; and they had good reason for believing that, because Lyga had liaised with Marvel Studios while writing the novel.

The story he wrote dovetailed perfectly with Thanos' portrayal in both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. And yet, when the news broke about Thanos: Titan Consumed, Marvel Studios swiftly contacted the publisher and asked that they make it clear "the book has no canonical ties to the MCU." But why did Marvel declare Thanos' origin non-canon? The most reasonable explanation is that Marvel's plans changed - and it's notable rumors of a potential Eternals movie began to circulate just a month after Thanos: Titan Consumed was announced.

And here's the interesting thing; Thanos: Titan Consumed does actually reveal how Thanos acquired the Mind Stone. In Barry Lyga's novel, the Mad Titan discovers a wizened prophet who possesses the scepter, driven mad by its power. Thanos' will is strong enough to resist his attacks, and he kills him, claiming the Mind Stone for himself. This is actually presented as the moment Thanos first learns of the Infinity Stones, and begins to hatch his plan to combine their power. This detail could explain what had changed; that Marvel originally had no plan to tell the story of how Thanos acquired the Mind Stone, and so allowed Lyga to weave that into his narrative, but then they figured out a way to explain it after all. Consequently, they had no choice but to swiftly declare Thanos: Titan Consumed non-canon.

Marvel has yet to begin the promotional campaign, and as a result precious little is known about Eternals to date. It has the potential to radically alter the balance of power in the MCU, introducing some of the most powerful beings of all, and it could also shine a fascinating light on the history of the MCU. In doing so, Eternals could well explain one of the last Infinity Stone mysteries - how Thanos got his hands on the Mind Stone.

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