The Infinity Gauntlet and the Infinity Stones have been gradually appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2011’s Thor movie. The gauntlet itself could be seen in Odin’s trophy room, while the Tesseract was the first of the stones to appear in the movie’s post-credits scene.
Since then, three more have appeared, and have ended up scattered around the universe. The aforementioned Tesseract (Space Stone) is in Asgard under the watch of Heimdall and (gulp!) Loki; the Aether (Reality Stone) is in what’s left of the Collector’s museum on Knowhere; the Orb (Power Stone) is in the possession of the Nova Corps on Xandar; and the Mind Stone (err, Mind Stone) is in the Vision’s forehead on Earth.
That leaves two; the Time Stone and the Soul Stone. When and where they will appear is anyone’s guess, but they are bound to be in the possession of relevant characters and we’d like to speculate about who those characters might be.
Some of these are obvious, some of them are educated guesses, and some of them are sheer speculation. Regardless, it would be cool to see the next Infinity Stones pop up in any of these guys’ hands. Here are seventeen characters who might possess the last two MCU Infinity Stones.
Thanos
It is, of course, Thanos’ master plan to gather all six of the Infinity Stones in order to launch his assault on the universe – an assault that will take place in the two Marvel Cinematic Universe Avengers: Infinity War movies (to be re-titled) in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
But who’s to say he doesn’t have one or two of them already? We don’t really know anything about Thanos, so he could already have a stash of powerful items somewhere that may include one or both of the remaining Infinity Stones.
He already had the Mind Gem in his possession at one point – he gave it to Loki in 2012’s The Avengers, prior to the God of Mischief losing it – and that might have been a lesson to him to keep any others he possessed in a safe place. Don’t be surprised to see the gauntlet he now possesses already filled with one or two stones in the near future!
Now for another fairly obvious inclusion on this list.
The Collector
By his very nature, the Collector – as played by Benicio del Toro in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – collects things. In fact, he already has the Aether in his possession and his specifically stated his intent to attempt to gather the other five Infinity Stones.
Although he’s not returning for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the character may well reappear in Thor: Ragnarok or the Avengers: Infinity War movies – and he might have added to his collection by then.
Although his museum was pretty much destroyed in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie, we’re sure that won’t put him off acquiring new items. An Infinity Stone might just be one of them.
Now for a very speculative idea about who might possess one of the remaining MCU Infinity Stones.
Black Bolt
There isn’t even a guarantee that Black Bolt will appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as things stand but, if he does, there’s a good chance he may be in possession of one of the remaining Infinity Stones.
The character was initially expected to appear in the Inhumans movie, but that appears to have been cancelled indefinitely. However, the Inhumans may still appear when it comes to the Avengers: Infinity War movies – they could emerge from hiding to help the titular heroes as they fight off the invasion of Thanos (who may well have come to Earth with taking an Infinity Stone from Black Bolt in mind).
It could, for example, be explained that the Infinity Stone in Black Bolt’s possession helped to create the Terrigen Crystals that give them powers. Black Bolt has been the keeper of an Infinity Gem in the comic books, so it would also be consistent with the source material.
Now for a character who has been hinted at for a while, but will debut in a couple of movies’ time.
Adam Warlock
Adam Warlock is yet to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but his cocoon has been seen in both the mid-credits scene of 2013’s Thor: The Dark World and in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy movie – so we know he’s coming.
His first appearance will undoubtedly be in 2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, when he will likely have emerged from his cocoon. We may well see him in possession of an Infinity Stone in that movie.
Warlock has possessed every single one of the Infinity Gems in the comic books – on occasion, he’s even had possession of the completed Infinity Gauntlet – so this would certainly be fitting for the character we already know. He’s an expert on their history and on how to use them, too – so he could very well teach the Guardians of the Galaxy every detail of what they’re all about.
The next entry in this list is a character strongly associated with Adam Warlock.
“Her”
“Her” – who also goes by various other names, such as Kismet, Paragon and Ayesha – is essentially the female version of Adam Warlock.
Like Warlock, she was created by the fictional subversive organisation of dictatorially-minded scientists known as the Enclave, with the intention being to create a perfect specimen.
Although she has never possessed an Infinity Gem in the comic books, she is said to be the villain in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – and we all know that villains in Guardians of the Galaxy movies love an Infinity Stone! She already possesses superhuman physical attributes, flight and regenerative capabilities, and the ability to fire powerful energy blasts. With an Infinity Stone, she’d be mega-powerful.
Another Guardians of the Galaxy character is up next.
Nebula
Towards the end of the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie in 2014, Nebula cut off her own hand in order to escape and her current whereabouts is unknown. That being said, she is definitely appearing in the sequel and she may well have an Infinity Stone.
A highly-skilled assassin, Nebula has all the abilities required to acquire an item of power and she has a very good reason to do so – revenge. Her adoptive father Thanos treated her badly in comparison to her stepsister Gamora – and Gamora herself was responsible for her having to cut her own hand off – so she could use the power of an Infinity Stone to gain her vengeance.
In the comic books, Nebula has possessed the entire Infinity Gauntlet, so a nod to this in the Marvel Cinematic Universe would be cool to see.
Now it’s time for the first group – rather than individual – on this list.
The Nova Corps
At the end of the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie in 2014, the Infinity Stone known as the Orb was left in the hands of the Nova Corps for safekeeping – and now that they know its destructive capabilities, they may want to acquire some others to keep safe as well.
The Nova Corps are essentially the guardians of their section of the universe, so now that they know the Infinity Stones exist, they will surely be doing everything they can to keep them out of villainous hands – and that could involve finding one themselves.
Although we have been told it isn’t wise to have two of them in one place, the Nova Corps might not know that and/or they might be able to keep them in two separate locations anyway.
Now for another very unlikely candidate, but one we shouldn’t rule out.
Norman Osborn
As with list-mate Black Bolt, there aren’t actually any guarantees that Norman Osborn will even appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe yet. However, if he does, there’s a chance that he might be in possession of an Infinity Stone.
Why? Well, because the character has been depicted on film twice before and it would be a great way to differentiate him from previous versions. Having Oscorp’s biological advances being powered by an Infinity Stone would be superb – and a man of Osborn’s power and influence would undoubtedly be interested in such potent items.
This is undoubtedly the most speculative entry in this article, but don’t rule it out. Osborn is a great idea for a future big-bad in the franchise, and showing him with the kind of ambition that led to his gaining possession of an Infinity Stone in 2017’s Spider-Man: Homecoming would be a great idea to show what he’s all about (of course, Thanos would have to relieve him of it before the Avengers: Infinity War movies, but that could actually lead to an interesting alliance).
Now for a very interesting potential holder of one of the remaining Infinity Stones.
The Mandarin
This would make for a very interesting twist (as if we haven’t already had enough of those relating to the Mandarin concept in the Marvel Cinematic Universe), and would enable Marvel Studios to use this character in an intriguing way, without having him as an Iron Man movie villain again.
After the debacle that was Iron Man 3, the Marvel One-Shot All Hail the King revealed that the real Mandarin does actually exist in the MCU – and he’s very annoyed about the version using his name in the third Tony Stark outing.
With that in mind, wouldn’t it be interesting if it were revealed that he was holding one of the last two Infinity Stones? He could even potentially be an accomplice of Thanos in the Avengers: Infinity War movies – and that would be pretty damn awesome.
Now for another hero who might possess one of the last two Infinity Stones.
Black Panther
We got to see T’Challa, aka Black Panther, for the first time in Captain America: Civil War this year, and he’s set to star in his own movie in 2018 – just before the first Avengers: Infinity War movie. Don’t be surprised, therefore, to find out that he possesses one of the two remaining Infinity Stones.
He is, of course, the ruler of Wakanda – a country with technology beyond that of the rest of the world, and the country that is the location of the raw form of the indestructible metal vibranium.
What if the source of Wakanda’s advanced technological might was actually an Infinity Stone? It would make perfect sense and make the Black Panther movie even more interesting than it already will be. Moreover, Black Panther has been the owner of one of the Infinity Gems in the comic books, so it would be in keeping with the source material.
Let’s move onto a man who is expected to face off against Black Panther in his solo movie.
Ulysses Klaue
Ulysses Klaue has already appeared once in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron – when he was confronted by Ultron, who was looking for vibranium, in his African base.
Ultron cut Klaue’s arm off, before transferring billions of dollars into his bank account – you can’t help thinking Klaue will use those billions to acquire some serious power in order to compensate for his lost limb.
Could that lead him to an Infinity Stone? In the comic books, Klaue’s sound-based power is rather weird and abstract – perhaps its source could be one of the six items of power in the MCU. He certainly has the financial muscle to deal in rare and expensive items now.
Now for a character whose constant craving for power could lead to getting his hands on one of the two remaining Infinity Stones.
Loki
Loki is undoubtedly one character who is on a perennial quest to gain power in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The adopted brother of Thor is currently sitting on the throne of Asgard, and has already experienced what it’s like to wield the power of an Infinity Stone – so don’t be surprised if he’s got one of the remaining two (he has, after all, possessed all six in the comic books).
Of course, the Tesseract is already under his watch, now that he’s ruling Asgard (albeit it under the guise of his adoptive father Odin), but he could well have used his position as king to obtain another.
Whether it would be for himself, or to appease Thanos, remains to be seen, but there’s every chance he could be in possession of either the Time Stone or the Soul Stone by the time we see him next.
Now on to a new character who could certainly have an Infinity Stone in his possession.
Grandmaster
The Grandmaster is yet to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he will hit the big screen for the first time in 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, when he will be played by the brilliant Jeff Goldblum.
He is one of the powerful Elders of the Universe and the “brother” of the Collector – a character who has already appeared in the MCU (and on this list), played by Benicio del Toro – and don’t be surprised to see him as the holder of one of the final two Infinity Stones in the movie franchise.
He has possessed one of the Infinity Gems in the comic books and, as the brother of someone who has already expressed a major interest in possessing all six of the Infinity Stones in the MCU, there’s every chance he could have one, too.
Now for a character who has already possessed an Infinity Stone in the MCU.
Red Skull
The Red Skull gained possession of the Tesseract – the first Infinity Stone to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – back in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, but trying to touch it with his bare hands resulted in him apparently being killed.
Since then, however, it has been rumoured that it merely transported him across the universe – it is the MCU version of the Space Gem, after all – and, therefore, he may well still be alive and kicking in the cosmos.
Unless he’s undergone a personality transplant while in space, he will still be seeking out power. With that in mind, he could have obtained one of the remaining Infinity Stones. Could he be an accomplice of Thanos in the Avengers: Infinity War movies? We think there’s a good chance of that happening!
Now for the most obvious potential holder of one of the remaining Infinity Stones.
Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange hits our screens at the end of this year, with British actor Benedict Cumberbatch in the titular role, and there’s a very, very good chance that his character will be the keeper of one of the remaining Infinity Stones in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
He has notably been the keeper of the Soul Gem in the comic books, but the rumors doing the rounds at the moment suggest that his trademark Eye of Agamotto will actually be the MCU version of the Time Gem.
Given the crazy powers that are expected to be on display in the Doctor Strange movie, it makes sense that some of them could come from an Infinity Stone. It wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone to see one turn up in the movie.
And who else from Doctor Strange’s world could have an Infinity Stone?
The Ancient One
Depending on which stage of the timeline the Doctor Strange movie is at – i.e. if it’s actually an origin story or if the scenes in which we see Doctor Strange learning his powers are merely flashbacks – then the ancient one may well still be the keeper of one of the final Infinity Stones.
You have to imagine that, if Doctor Strange does indeed get one of the powerful items, the Ancient One will have had it before him. Whether or not the handing over of it takes place in the movie or at a time before it is set remains to be seen.
Tilda Swinton will portray a gender-switched version of the character in the movie and we’re really looking forward to finding out more about her – perhaps that will include having used an Infinity Stone to become as powerful as she inevitably will be.
Now for the final character in this list.
Whoever Mads Mikkelsen Is Playing
Villains seem to be the characters who want to get their hands on the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Infinity Stones more than anyone else, so the villain Mads Mikkelsen is playing in the Doctor Strange movie may well have one of them.
In the trailers for the movie, we have seen him (whoever the heck he is) doing some very weird stuff – stuff that definitely could be powered by a very potent abstract artefact like an Infinity Stone.
One thing’s for certain, though; if Mikkelsen’s character does indeed have an Infinity Stone in his possession, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange will have his hands full in his MCU debut.
And that’s that, folks! We hope you enjoyed this article!
What do you think? Will any of these characters be in possession of the remaining Infinity Stones? Which other characters might have them? Have your say below!
