Avengers: Infinity War Director Compares Thanos' Mission To '90s Heist Films

Kofi Outlaw

11/09/2017 05:28 pm EST

Big news has been flowing from Marvel's upcoming crossover event film Avengers: Infinty War, and during San Diego Comic-Con 2017, Comicbook.com got to speak with Infinity War director Joe Russo! Watch that interview above, and read the breakdown of his statements, below!

Our own BD Davis asked Joe Russo how much of Infinity War's (extensive) runtime would be dedicated to seeing Thanos gather the Infinity Stones together, in order to form the all-powerful Infinity Gauntlet seen in the first Avengers: Infinity War poster. According to Russo:

"My brother and I like use movies (because we're film geeks) as influences for us. Sometimes, with so many people working on these films, it's just great to show them footage or talk about a film that everyone knows so you understand the tone, or the theme, or the structure that you're playing with. Structurally, with this first film, Avengers 3, we've been using the smash-n-grab '90s heist films, so there's a real urgency to the film. I feel like it adds a level of excitement and relentlessness to the pace of the movie. And it's a lot of divergent narratives coming together into a climax."

Russo also let it be known when the world will see the first Infinity War footage - find out more about that below.

MORE: Here's When The Avengers: Infinity War Trailer Will Be Released

As for where Thanos and his Black Order will have to go in the MCU to get The Infinity Stones? Here's a breakdown of where things currently stand:

The Space Stone (Tesseract)

The Space Stone was introduced to us as The Tesseract in Captain America: The First Avenger, and it later became Loki's power source to teleport the Chitauri army across the vastness of space in The Avengers. Its power is to open big space portals, obviously.

Where it is Now: Thor took Loki and the Tesseract back to Asgard at the end of Avengers. However, since Loki secretly usurped Odin's throne at the end of Thor: The Dark World, there's no way to be sure where The Tesseract/Space Stone is now.

The Reality Stone (Aether)

The Reality Stone is a red viscous liquid also known as "The Aether," as seen in Thor: The Dark World. The Aether's exact power is unclear, but it is implied that it can transform reality and the universe in some way.

It was hidden in a pocket dimension that Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) stumbled upon, and was harnessed from her body by Malekith, leader of The Dark Elves. Thor ultimately got the Aether back from Malekith, keeping it in Asgard.

Where it is Now: The Asgardians didn't want two Infinity Stones in one place, so they gave The Reality Stone to The Collector (Benicio Del Toro) for "safe" keeping. Even though The Collector's Museum went BOOM in Guardians of the Galaxy, the Reality Stone is presumably still there.

The Space Stone (Orb)

The Power Stone's power is pretty straightforward: it has seemingly infinite amount of raw (and very explosive) power. It was introduced to us in Guardians of the Galaxy as "The Orb," until Peter Quill and his team learned what it really was from The Collector. They ultimately stopped Ronan from using the Stone to blow up Xandar, home of the Nova Corps.

Where it is Now: The Power Stone is on Xandar in the vault of the Nova Corps, after Quill pilfered it from Yondu and put it in the right hands.

The Mind Stone (Scepter)

The Mind Stone was described by Tony Stark and Bruce Banner as being like an advanced A.I. - unlike anything we've ever conceived of on Earth. It has the power to control minds, enhance the user's intelligence, project energy, and can even awaken powers in people (like Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch), or create consciousness (like Ultron).

It first appeared as Loki's scepter in The Avengers, and was then taken from SHIELD and put into the hands of HYDRA, who used it to create "The Twins." The Avengers got the scepter back, and when Stark and Banner discovered the Mind Stone inside they used it to create Ultron - who in turn used it to create The Vision.

Where it is Now: By Thor's decree, The Vision now wears The Mind Stone on his forehead, as its protector.

The Time Stone (Eye of Agamotto)

The Time Stone's power is to control time. It was harnessed by Earth's first Sorcerer Supreme, Agamotto, and became "The Eye of Agamotto." It has been protected by the Masters of the Mystic Arts ever since, and was last seen used by Doctor Strange to defend Earth against Kaecilius and Dormammu.

Where it is Now: The Masters of the Mystic Arts still retain the Time Stone for safekeeping.

The Soul Stone (Location Unknown)

We don't yet know what the Soul Stone's function or appearance is in The Marvel Cinematic Universe. Theoretically, it could be changed from even being a soul-based power (though it likely won't).

Where it is Now: We have no solid idea. But fan speculation has long been ongoing, with Guardians of the Galaxy 2 or Thor: Ragnarok remaining the best two possibilities to see it appear. Personally, we're betting on Ragnarok's 'rise of the dead' storyline to reveal the Soul Stone (possibly in possession of Cate Blanchett's Hela?).

More Avengers: Infinity War

More Avengers: Infinity War News:

Avengers: Infinity War currently has a 4.34 out of 5 ComicBook.com User Anticipation Rating, making it the most anticipated upcoming comic book movie among ComicBook.com readers. Let us know how much you're looking forward to Avengers: Infinity War by giving it your own ComicBook.com User Anticipation Rating below.

Avengers: Infinity War is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, from a screenplay by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely, and stars Robert Downey Jr., JoshBrolin, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Hiddleston, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, JeremyRenner, Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Olsen, Sebastian Stan, BenedictCumberbatch, PaulBettany, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Benedict Wong,Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Vin Diesel, Dave Bautista, Pom Klementieff, Scarlett Johansson, Benicio delToro, Tom Holland, and Anthony Mackie.

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