The Collector (Marvel Cinematic Universe)


 *  NOTE: This article is about the incarnation of the Collector from the Marvel Cinematic film series. The mainstream version can be found here: The Collector (Marvel). 

"I present to you... Taneleer Tivan, the Collector!"

- Carina introducing the Collector.

Taneleer Tivan, also known as The Collector, is a recurring antagonist of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, serving a minor antagonist in Thor: The Dark World and Guardians of the Galaxy, and had a brief appearance albeit an illusion in Avengers: Infinity War. He is the obsessive keeper of the largest collection of interstellar fauna, relics and species in the galaxy by operating in a cosmic place named Knowhere.

He is portrayed by Benicio del Toro, who also played the title character in the 2010 remake of The Wolf Man, Lado in Savages, Dario in Licence to Kill, and DJ in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Thor: The Dark World
He made a minor cameo in the post-credits scene in the film following the deaths of Malekith and the Dark Elves. He is tasked by Sif and Volstagg to protect the Aether (the Reality Stone) and keep the stones separated, because it would be dangerous. After they leave, Tivan utters the phrase, "One down, five to go", implying that he plans to collect all six of them for his collection.

Guardians of the Galaxy
Tivan struck a dubious bargain with Gamora, former assassin and agent for the Kree fanatic, Ronan the Accuser, to retrieve the stolen Orb for 4 billion units, which contained a cataclysmic Infinity Stone that Ronan desired. Gamora arrived at Knowhere with her companions, Peter Quill, Rocket Racoon, Groot and Drax the Destroyer. Drax was not present, but before their arrival, The Collector informed his attendant Carina, that they had visitors and threatened her by reminding her about the result for the disapointment his previous attendant had been.

Later, when Gamora and her team arrived, Tivan was presented and greeted Gamora, when his attention was then caught by the tree alien Groot. When Rocket commented on Tivan, he mocked him, calling him a "pet" due to his racoon appearance. Gamora broke it up and showed Tivan the Orb containing the Power Stone. Tivan explained the origins of the Orb and the destruction power that the Infinity Stones contained, much to the boredom of Rocket, who instantly demanded their payment for bringing the Stone.

Before Tivan was about to make the payment as promised, Tivan spotted Carina approaching the Power Stone. Ignoring his warning to step away from the powerful stone, Carina yells "I WILL NO LONGER BE YOUR SLAVE!" and grabbed the stone, despite Tivan's protests. Unfortunately, this causes the Stone to destroy most of Tivan's collection and kill Tivan's servants (including Carina herself) while Gamora, Groot, Tivan, Quill and Rocket survived and escaped. The Power Stone later ended up in the hands of the Nova Core of Xandar after Ronan's death.

In a post-credits scene, a depressed Tivan is seen sitting in his destroyed archive with two of his still living exhibits: a canine cosmonaut named Cosmos and an anthropomorphic duck named Howard.

Avengers: Infinity War
In the film, Tivan is confronted and threatened by the mad alien warlord Thanos, who intends to take the Aether by force during his quest to collect all six Infinity Stones for himself, much to Tivan's distraught. Upon arriving at Knowhere and witnessing Thanos torturing Tivan, the Guardians attempt to ambush Thanos in an attempt to kill him and save Tivan. However, they soon learned too late that Thanos has already obtained the Aether and that the entire scene was an illusion to lure them into a trap as Knowhere is currently being burned down. This allows Thanos to kidnap Gamora to coerce her into giving out the location of the Soul Stone.

It is unknown what happened to the real Tivan, either he was forced by Thanos into giving the Aether or he was killed by Thanos to obtain it.

Trivia

 * It was confirmed that he is the younger brother of Grandmaster (played by Jeff Goldblum), who appeared briefly during the end credits of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 before having a bigger role in Thor: Ragnarok.
 * Both the Collector and the Grandmaster are considered a unique type of villains within Marvel Cinematic Universe as both of them had shown with a sense of humor and comic relief without showing signs of aggression and malice but still retains their villainous motivations.

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