Is Andy Serkis Playing Thanos in 'Avengers: Age of Ultron'?

In an interview with The Daily Beast that published on Tuesday, motion-capture genius Andy Serkis discussed the work he was doing for Avengers: Age of Ultron. We've known for a bit that the Dawn of the Planet of the Apes star was doing some consulting work on the upcoming Avengers sequel, working with Mark Ruffalo to take his performance as the Hulk to the next level. We recently learned that Serkis would also be playing a character in Age of Ultron too ... but which character?

"You’re also apparently playing a character in Avengers: Age of Ultron … is it Thanos?" The Daily Beast asked Serkis.

"Um … I’d have to deny that character at this point," Serkis said. "But I am playing a character. I was really thrilled that Joss Whedon asked me to be involved. It's fantastic. I've had a ball working with them, both as performance capture consultant through the Imaginarium, but also being asked to be in it. But I can't say anything more!"

OK, so let's take a closer look at what Serkis said. He has to deny that he's playing Thanos "at this point." Marvel Studios has already announced that Josh Brolin will voice Thanos in Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron and in future Marvel Cinematic Universe films. The studio has never said that Brolin will be doing the motion-capture work for Thanos. As the villain becomes a bigger and bigger part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, why wouldn't the studio want the premier motion-capture actor on board? If Serkis is filling that role, standard Marvel Studios procedure would have him keep things under wrap for now. Of course he has to "deny that character at this point."

There's also the slight chance that Serkis could be playing Ultron himself, the other major motion-capture character in Age of Ultron. From everything we've heard, though, James Spader is both voicing and doing the performance for Ultron. Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has said that "we'll be capturing [Spader's] face and his body to create a whole performance."

Serkis is already in the Disney business, being a part of the Star Wars: Episode VII cast that was announced in April. Doing some work for corporate sibling Marvel Studios wouldn't be a big stretch.