The villain you saw at the end credits of "The Avengers" movie will possibly be the center of 'Phase 3' in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The pursuit of absolute power propels the Marvel villains. It is the heroes' job to make sure that they don't fall in the wrong hands. In "The Avengers," Loki has the Tessaract.

In the upcoming 'Guardians of the Galaxy' they have their own 'MacGuffin'-a term referred to in cinema. It means a thing that is being pursued and plays a central role in the movie. In some cases, the MacGuffin is vague and unidentified; the best example is the suitcase John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson brings in "Pulp Fiction."

In the Marvel movies, it has to be explained. Short of spoiling 'Guardians of the Galaxy,' Marvel's big man Kevin Feige spills important info to Screenrant:

"Well, I don't know that I would spell it out that clearly, necessarily, but certainly fans of the comics could surmise that all of this is leading somewhere. That Joss' decision to have Thanos turn around and smile for the audience at the end of 'Avengers', our reveal, was always the plan....And where it goes from there, we'll see... But yes, the MacGuffin of 'Guardians' certainly plays into MacGuffins of the past."

Screenrant explains:"The Infinity Gauntlet is a glove that has six gems (time, space, power, mind, reality, soul) that grant the wearer godlike power. In the famous '90s comic book storyline by writer Jim Starlin and artists George Pérez and Ron Lim, Thanos gets the glove and lays waste to the Marvel superheroes, until he is betrayed by his companion Nebula and defeated by the heroes. Nebula, of course, will be introduced in "Guardians of the Galaxy" - so you can see just how intricately and deliberately this web is being spun." (The Infinity Glove is in Odin's vault in Asgard)

Thus, Thanos, the smirking smile that appeared in the end credits of The Avengers, will play a major role, if not THE central role in Phase 3. Who will play Thanos? We've already had a suspect.