Summary:
- Benicio del Toro hints at reprising his role as The Collector, sparking fresh speculation across the Marvel fandom.
- The Collector’s fate remains unclear, but his return could reshape upcoming multiversal storylines.
- With Secret Wars looming, The Collector might finally unleash his true cosmic potential in the MCU.
Benicio del Toro might just be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and this time, it’s more than just wishful thinking. Known for his eccentric and mysterious portrayal of The Collector, del Toro has dropped his most hopeful hint yet about a potential comeback.
With the Multiverse Saga expanding and major projects like Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars on the horizon, the timing couldn’t be better for the return of one of Marvel’s most cunning cosmic beings. Let’s break down everything we know so far and why The Collector’s return might make perfect sense right now.
Table of Contents
Benicio del Toro on his Return as Collector in the MCU
In an appearance on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast, the Academy Award-winning actor dropped a hint that his cosmic villain, The Collector, might not be done yet. “There’s more on the table,” said del Toro, offering a more hopeful tone than his recent comments promoting his new film The Phoenician Scheme.
In a separate interview with ComicBook, he was far less certain, stating,
“You gotta get invited to play in that international tournament, and I’d love to play in it, but fingers crossed that’ll happen soon. I haven’t been invited yet for a second round.”
That shift, from cautious hope to open teasing, has stoked rumors that Marvel Studios is already actively deliberating about bringing him back, especially with Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars on the table. It’s unclear whether his statements reflect actual behind-the-scenes deal-making or just his love for the character, but one thing is clear: del Toro’s ready and waiting.
The Collector’s History in the MCU
Del Toro first appeared in the MCU as Taneleer Tivan, The Collector, in a mid-credits scene of Thor: The Dark World (2013). In the brief but fascinating scene, the Asgardians had entrusted him with the Aether (Reality Stone).
He appeared more prominently later in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), operating his vast museum on Knowhere, surrounded by rare creatures, ancient relics, and other cosmic oddities.
His most recent appearance was in Avengers: Infinity War (2018), where he was seemingly held captive by Thanos. That appearance turned out to be an illusion crafted by Thanos, leaving The Collector’s real fate uncertain. This has led to much speculation ever since about his fate.
Later MCU developments revealed that he did survive. Director James Gunn in 2022 confirmed that the Guardians had purchased Knowhere from The Collector and used it as their base in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. That kind of suggests that Tivan is alive, just off-screen for now.
Why The Return of The Collector Makes Sense
With Avengers: Doomsday delayed to give its sprawling, multiversal storyline more breathing room, Marvel has more flexibility to bring back familiar faces, and The Collector is the ideal choice. A being obsessed with rare entities would naturally be drawn to the chaos of the Multiverse Saga, where variants of heroes, villains, and cosmic artifacts abound.
As a master manipulator with extensive cosmic awareness, Tivan might be an excellent ally, or a cunning wild card, if there are whispers of Robert Downey Jr. reprising his role as a variant Doctor Doom.
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Talking about Secret Wars, a storyline constructed around the idea of patchwork realities sewn into one universe, The Collector might be a natural fit. Imagine him ruling over his domain, stockpiled with prized items from collapsed universes.
The Collector’s Untapped Potential
So far, the MCU has shown The Collector and his brother, The Grandmaster, to be quirky but harmless, but that might change. Marvel’s What If.? introduced fans to a version of The Collector who employed a vast artifact arsenal to become a formidable force, hinting at untapped potential. With the multiverse on the table, a variant Tivan, fully aware of his power and not afraid to use it, could enter the picture.
With Kevin Feige preparing to announce more casting news for Avengers: Doomsday, and with del Toro more enthusiastic than ever before, the timing seems right. The Collector’s return would not only bring continuity but also a layer of cosmic charm and danger to the MCU’s next phase. Marvel, the ball’s in your court.
