MCU: Predicting How Thanos Will Gain The Infinity Stones (And How They Were Gained In The Comics)

The Time Gem, in the comics, is in the possession of yet another Elder, The Gardener, until Thanos turns up. All The Gardener is using the Time Gem's power for is simply maintaining his garden. By speeding the plants' growth and freezing them at their peak, The Gardener has created the most beautiful place in the universe, a sentiment that even the mighty Thanos cannot disagree with.

Unwilling to part company with the power that is fuelling his pride and joy, The Gardener stubbornly leaves Thanos no choice but to take it by force, using his newly acquired Power Gem to override the Time Gem, killing The Elder with his own plants.

Doctor Strange introduced The Time Stone into the MCU in the form of The Eye of Agamotto, a relic currently in the possession of The Sorcerer Supreme in New York. From the Infinity War trailer we see that there will clearly be a lot of action surrounding the Sanctum Sanctorum, undoubtedly brought about by Thanos' wish for The Eye.

While he will obtain The Power Stone for himself, he will leave The Time Stone to another. A leaked behind the scenes photo featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and an actor wearing a motion capture suit labelled "EB MAW" all but confirms that Ebony Maw will be the one Thanos trusts to bring The Time Stone to him. This will echo a scene pulled straight from the comics, in which Ebony Maw uses his mental manipulation powers to force Doctor Strange to submit to his every whim.

In the comics, this took the form of summoning a powerful demon to Earth, and in the MCU it will take the form of handing over The Eye of Agamotto.