Marvel’s New Thanos Replacement Is A Star Wars Legend

Published Oct 19, 2026, 5:20 PM EDT TJ Mills is an editor on ScreenRant's Comic team, where she combines her lifelong passion for DC with her analytical background as a former Intelligence Analyst. Since joining ScreenRant in 2023, she has specialized in covering major DC storylines, character evolutions, and industry developments. Thanos is one of the most legendary villains in the Marvel Universe, thanks largely to The Infinity Gauntlet (1991), a six-issue Marvel Comics storyline written by Jim Starlin. The iconic story inspired the overarching conflict in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). However, a new image suggests that someone else may be poised to wield the Infinity Gauntlet, and instead of a typical Marvel villain, it's a legendary figure from Star Wars. If you haven’t heard the news, Marvel is gearing up for its self-proclaimed “biggest crossover of the century,” which will see the Marvel Universe collide with Star Wars in Star Wars / Marvel: Hope Assembles. Slated as a five-part limited series brought to life by the creative duo of Kevin Smith and David Marquez, the crossover’s first 40-page oversized issue will be released on January 13, 2027, and will be available to purchase for $5.99. This is a monumental crossover, as it will be the first-ever crossover between the two legendary franchises. Readers can expect the series to bring together heroes and villains from both universes as “Avengers, Spider-Man, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Darth Vader, Doctor Doom and more collide in an epic adventure… after a reality-shattering spell causes the events of A NEW HOPE to unfold on EARTH-616.” While little else is known about the series, Marvel Comics has released an early first look at several covers for Star Wars / Marvel: Hope Assembles #1. Most notable is a cover by Rafael Albuquerque depicting Darth Vader wielding the Infinity Gauntlet, raising the question of whether the iconic Star Wars villain could play a Thanos-esque role in the upcoming crossover. Why Darth Vader Would Make The Perfect Infinity Gauntlet Wielder Cover E Rafael Albuquerque Crossover Variant for Star Wars / Marvel: Hope Assembles #1 (2027) Albuquerque’s variant cover for Star Wars / Marvel: Hope Assembles #1 depicts Darth Vader raising his left fist to reveal he wields the Infinity Gauntlet. While this is just a variant cover and doesn't guarantee readers will see the Star Wars villain wield the Infinity Gauntlet in the crossover, it remains a possibility. If this variant cover hints at what happens in the story, it would mark a monumental development, with Darth Vader potentially becoming the latest, and perhaps most iconic, villain to wield the gauntlet since Thanos. In doing so, Vader could effectively replace Thanos as the most legendary villain associated with the powerful weapon, at least within the context of this crossover. While it remains to be seen how effective Darth Vader would be at wielding the Infinity Gauntlet, there is an intriguing parallel between him and Thanos that makes the idea particularly compelling. Both villains are driven by a desire to reshape the universe according to their own vision. Thanos sought to remake reality to suit his ambitions, while Darth Vader sought to impose his authoritarian ideals on the Star Wars universe. Given Darth Vader’s desire to reshape the galaxy and the personal tragedies that continue to define him, the Infinity Gauntlet could offer him a way to achieve both goals: undo his greatest losses and impose absolute order on existence. This mix of overwhelming ambition and unresolved grief makes him a compelling candidate to wield the weapon if Kevin Smith gives a Star Wars character such a pivotal role in the crossover. Star Wars / Marvel: Hope Assembles #1 from Marvel Comics will be available to read on January 13, 2027!