Thanos Gauntlet Unveiled at Italian American Museum of Los Angeles

The Italian American Museum of Los Angeles (IAMLA) unveiled the newest addition to its permanent Hollywood exhibition earlier this month: an Infinity Gauntlet from the film Avengers: Infinity War. The gauntlet was modeled for actor Josh Brolin who played the supervillain Thanos in the film.

It is part of an exhibition highlighting the achievements of record-smashing directors Joe and Anthony Russo, best known for their films Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and The Gray Man. The museum previously showcased a Captain America shield used by actor Chris Evans in Captain America: Civil War — a favorite among museum visitors.

**The infamous Thanos gauntlet from “Avengers: Infinity War.”**

Born a year apart in Cleveland, Ohio, the Russo brothers are lifelong members of the Italian Sons and Daughters of America. They cite the values they learned growing up in their Italian American family as being pivotal to their success.

October is Italian American Heritage Month. Learn more about Our Story here.

After winning Emmys for their work on the television series Arrested Development, Community, and Happy Endings, Anthony and Joe Russo were selected by Marvel Studios to direct the Winter Soldier installment of the Captain America movie franchise, which opened to critical acclaim in 2014 and grossed $715 million. Marvel then tapped the brothers to direct the sequel, Captain America: Civil War. The sequel grossed $1.1 billion worldwide, making it the highest-earning film of 2016 and the 15th highest in history.

The brothers went on to direct Avengers: Infinity War (2018), which became the first film to earn over $2 billion, and Avengers: Endgame (2019), which also grossed over $2 billion. Since then, AGBO, the independent production company founded by the brothers, has produced film and television projects including the award-winning film Everything Everywhere All at Once (2021) and Netflix’s record-breaking Extraction (2021) starring Chris Hemsworth. The Russo brothers have also earned both director and producer credits in films including Cherry (2021) and The Gray Man (2022).

“We are excited to once again have the opportunity to share an iconic piece of the Marvel Universe with the museum,” said Anthony Russo. “Like the Italian family we grew up in, the MCU allowed us to work with another type of family. Although the gauntlet was used for destruction, it was the symbol that motivated a family to protect and preserve their own. Both in front and behind the camera, we worked for almost a decade with professionals that truly became part of our family.”

**Directors Joe and Anthony Russo at IAMLA.**

Joe Russo echoed that sentiment: “Our Italian parents instilled in us a sense of hard work, devotion to our heritage and incredible respect and love for one another. This makes this dedication even more special to us. We are honored to be able to present this gauntlet to the museum for visitors to enjoy.”

Hollywood is one of the seven exhibitions that comprise the IAMLA’s permanent exhibition. It explores the contributions of Italians and Italian Americans in the entertainment industry, which can be traced to the earliest days of Hollywood. Hollywood showcases the legacy of luminaries such as Rudolph Valentino, Frank Capra, Annette Funicello, Francis Ford Coppola, and Lady Gaga, while exploring the complex relationship between the Italians and the media.

“Whether on screen or behind the camera, Italian Americans have played an integral role in the entertainment industry since its inception,” said Marianna Gatto, Executive Director–Co-Founder of the IAMLA. “Anthony and Joe Russo exemplify this legacy, and the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles is honored to showcase the Russo brothers’ achievements in its permanent exhibition.”

Located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, in one of the oldest remaining structures from the city’s Historic Little Italy, the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles invites visitors to journey into the history and experiences of Italian Americans using state-of-the-art technology, artifacts, and hundreds of rare and never-before-seen images and historical documents. Thanks to a partnership with Google Cultural Institute, the IAMLA’s permanent exhibition is also accessible online. The IAMLA is open to the public free of charge, though donations are encouraged. For more information, please visit www.iamla.org.