| For other uses, see Stonekeeper (disambiguation) |
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- "Consider me a guide. To you, and to all who seek the Soul Stone."
"Oh, good. You tell us where it is. Then we'll be on our way."
"Ah, liebchen. If only it were that easy. What you seek lies in front of you... as does what you fear." - ―Red Skull and Black Widow[src]
Johann Schmidt is the former leader of HYDRA known as Red Skull who was teleported to Vormir. Trapped in a state of purgatory, he was forced to become a Stonekeeper, a wraith cursed to advise whoever sought the Soul Stone. Having spent seven decades on Vormir, Red Skull was encountered by Hawkeye and Black Widow as they sought the Soul Stone. When Black Widow sacrificed herself, Schmidt was briefly freed until Captain America returned the Soul Stone and restored his curse.
Biography[]
Guarding the Soul Stone[]
- "The stone is down there."
"For one of you. For the other... In order to take the stone, you must lose that which you love. An everlasting exchange. A soul, for a soul." - ―Black Widow and Red Skull[src]
Red Skull meets Hawkeye and Black Widow
In 2014, Red Skull was visited by Black Widow and Hawkeye, who had traveled from another timeline in their attempt to resurrect the victims of the Snap. Greeting the pair, Red Skull noted his knowledge of their parent's names, and explaining that he would be their guide. As Black Widow demanded to be taken to the Soul Stone so they could leave, Red Skull had noted that it would not be so easy.
Red Skull explains claiming the Soul Stone
Leading them towards the cliffside of Vormir's temple, Red Skull had then explained that the Stone was at the bottom of the cliff, and told them of the need for a sacrifice of something that they loved in order to obtain the stone, noting that this sacrifice would be an everlasting exchange. Black Widow and Hawkeye did not come to a decision on what to do, as they sat and pondered the ramifications of a sacrifice, with Hawkeye awkwardly waving at Red Skull as they thought.
Red Skull awaits a decision on the sacrifice
As Red Skull watched on, both Black Widow and Hawkeye decided to sacrifice themselves for the Stone, leading to them attempting to subdue each other with all their weaponry, until Black Widow was finally able to throw herself to her death, allowing Hawkeye to obtain the Soul Stone. However, before Red Skull was able to be freed from his curse, Captain America returned the Stone following the Battle of Earth, leaving this version of Red Skull trapped on Vormir.[3]
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
| This section requires expansion |
- Artificially Enhanced Physiology: To be added
- Enhanced Strength: To be added
- Enhanced Durability: To be added
- Enhanced Speed: To be added
- Enhanced Agility: To be added
- Enhanced Stamina: To be added
- Enhanced Reflexes: To be added
- Enhanced Intelligence: To be added
- Regenerative Healing Factor: To be added
- Immortality: To be added
- Levitation: To be added
- "Why? 'Cause he knows your daddy's name?"
"I didn't." - ―Hawkeye and Black Widow[src]
- Nigh-Omniscience: As a Stonekeeper, Schmidt can gain insight into anyone who seeks the Soul Stone. He was able to know Black Widow's father's name, even though she was unaware of it herself. He also knows every necessary and trivial fact about the Infinity Stones.
Abilities[]
| This section requires expansion |
- Genius-Level Intellect: To be added
Relationships[]
Allies[]
Behind the Scenes[]
- While developing the story for Avengers: Endgame, Christopher Markus considered to have Captain America going to Vormir to meet again the Red Skull there, forcing them to collaborate so the former could obtain the Soul Stone.[4] While the idea was dropped early in development, Joe Russo confirmed that Captain America did meet the Red Skull again when he gave the Soul Stone back to Vormir before returning to the alternate 1940s to live out his retirement, albeit offscreen.[5]
- As of April 2025, Ross Marquand has been pitching a Captain America spin-off series for Disney+ about Captain America delivering the Infinity Stones back to their times after the Battle of Earth in an effort to reprise his role as the Red Skull.[6]
References[]
- ↑ Captain America: The First Avenger
- ↑ Avengers: Infinity War
- ↑ Avengers: Endgame
- ↑ SDCC: Markus & McFeely Discuss Writing Avengers: Endgame
- ↑ Joe Russo's Q&A about the plot of Avengers: Endgame in China
- ↑ Red Skull Actor Addresses Potential Avengers: Doomsday Return & Reveals Captain America Disney+ Series Pitch
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