This Is Why Marvel Chose Red Skull to Be Tied to the Soul Stone in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’

Why Marvel Chose Red Skull to Be Connected to the Soul Stone in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Infinity Saga captivated audiences as Thanos embarked on a quest to gather all the Infinity Stones in order to eliminate half of all life in the universe. Among these powerful artifacts, one stood out as particularly intricate, with direct ties to the characters and plot of Avengers: Infinity War. In a Q&A session after FilmSweep’s screening of the film in 2018, Joe and Anthony Russo, the filmmakers behind the project, shed light on their careful handling of the Soul Stone and why they chose to integrate it in such a significant way.

COLLIDER VIDEO OF THE DAY

Recognizing the need to make the Soul Stone special and emotionally connected to the story and Thanos as a character, the Russo brothers faced a challenging task. It was the last stone they figured out, as developing its story proved to be the most demanding. With the realization that Avengers: Infinity War was truly Thanos’ movie, they aimed to give him the lowest moment in the film. This led them to delve into the Soul Stone’s narrative, exploring how they could generate anguish and dimensionalize Thanos on his journey throughout the movie.

The emotional connection mentioned by the directors centered on the fact that anyone seeking the Soul Stone had to sacrifice someone they loved—a person or entity of great personal significance. In Thanos’ case, this meant sacrificing his adopted daughter, Gamora. As a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Gamora understood that confronting Thanos would likely result in her demise. Consequently, she did her best to keep her newfound family away from him. Unfortunately, her prediction came true, as she lost her life when the Mad Titan obtained the Soul Stone.

Image via Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

RELATED:
The Marvel Cinematic Universe Thrives in Outer Space

Another intriguing revelation regarding the Soul Stone was the return of a character that Marvel fans hadn’t seen on the big screen for a long time. Red Skull made a surprising comeback after vanishing at the end of Captain America: The First Avenger. While Hugo Weaving originally portrayed the character in that film, he declined to reprise the role for the grand crossover due to disagreements over compensation. As a result, Marvel Studios made the decision to recast the villainous character. During the Q&A, Joe Russo explained that Red Skull had been on a transformative journey since his “mystical ending” in Captain America, becoming a wraith and a slave to the stones, transcending his former self and becoming a ghost. Russo further clarified why Red Skull was the right choice to bring back for the Infinity Stone storyline:

“I believe he was always meant to be that character. We may have toyed with the idea of someone else once or twice, but we needed a character the audience would trust. When he explains the rules of obtaining the stone, we wanted the audience to believe him. [Christopher] Markus and [Stephen] McFeely fought hard to have him back in the film.”

How Does the Soul Stone Function?

Thanos’ acquisition of the Soul Stone marked a point of no return for the villain. Joe Russo elucidated that “The Soul Stone obviously has the ability to manipulate your soul, the essence of who you are.” During the discussion, Russo provided insight into some of the Stone’s capabilities in exchange for one’s soul. He described a key moment where Doctor Strange multiplied himself, and Thanos employed the Soul Stone to eliminate the illusions, momentarily expelling Strange from his own body. Strange had to regain control and bring himself back. Additionally, when Thanos sought the Soul Stone to communicate with his deceased daughter, he demonstrated the power to resurrect and conjure spiritual representations of the deceased.

The End of an Era
Image via Marvel Studios

Thanos’ assault left a lasting impact on the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. Even five years after the release of Infinity War, its consequences reverberated through projects like WandaVision and the recently released Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3. This conflict with the unstoppable villain also marked the final appearance of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, signaling the dawn of a new era where different heroes would take the lead. Whether Earth’s mightiest heroes can match their former strength when confronted with a formidable new threat in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty remains to be seen.

You can watch FilmSweep’s interview with Joe and Anthony Russo below:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Marvel Soul Stone

More about Marvel Soul Stone

• Marvel Cinematic Universe
• Avengers: Infinity War
• Red Skull
• Soul Stone
• Hugo Weaving
• Ross Marquand
• Infinity Saga
• Thanos
• Gamora
• Doctor Strange
• WandaVision
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3
• Robert Downey Jr.