It’s safe to say that 2018 will be Thanos' year. First teased in 2012, the Mad Titan’s plan for the Marvel Cinematic Universe are about to be revealed, and it appears that the plan will set the events of Avengers: Infinity War in motion. So it’s no wonder that we still don't know why Thanos and the Black Order are in pursuit of the Infinity Stones.

In the comics, the Mad Titan's infatuation with Mistress Death inspired him to wipe half the universe out of existence. And that meant that beloved superheroes were also obliterated. But since the character Death hasn't yet been introduced, something else must be motivating the supervillain.

Director Joe Russo views Thanos as an interesting and complex character who might be described as psychotic. And there’s more to the villain than that; his plans and motivations will make it possible for the audience to relate to him on some level.

I'm most excited for the audience to learn about [Thanos]. I think he's a very interesting and complex villain. That's why I like him; that's why I'm excited for the audience to learn about him. I think his motivations are – albeit psychotic – compelling, and I think that this, in a lot of ways, is his movie, so it's going to be very interesting to see how people respond to Thanos (Marvel Studios Movies).

There’s been talk about the need to create compelling motivation for MCU villains. Beyond their obvious desire to take over the world, they want to establish a new and superior order (Alexander Pierce of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, for example). But is that what motivates Thanos?

We don't know the answer, but we believe that Thanos’ twisted love for Death serves as a much stronger impetus for his actions. And it’s possible that Hela survived Ragnarok, so who knows?

Avengers: Infinity War will be released on May 4, 2018.