Well, it seems that ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2.’ might be advancing another story beyond the tale of Star-Lord and his friends, in the form of a popular fan theory regarding all of the amazing Stan Lee cameos we have seen in the MCU (and beyond!) over the years.
WARNING: Post credit and cameo spoilers below!
For those not in the know, there has long been a theory that Stan Lee is not just cameoing in every Marvel movie, but that he is actually playing the same character in every movie he appears in, trying to blend into the background as he observes, or “watches,” the events unfolding. The theory postulates that Lee is playing none other than one of the Watchers, an advanced cosmic race in the Marvel universe that study lesser races. And since he appears primary on Earth watching events on our planet, fans have wondered if he is playing Uatu, the Watcher known for overseeing Earth.
And apparently Lee’s cameo in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ has the man actually speaking with three Watchers about his adventures on Earth, blowing open the door for this theory to be true, even though the film does not explicitly say that Lee himself is a Watcher, just that he clearly knows some of them, while also confirming that he is indeed playing the same character in every Marvel movie, as the exploits he is talking to the Watchers about are the cameos we have seen him in throughout the history of the MCU. Later, in a post-credits scene, as Lee continues to regale the Watchers with his tales, they grow bored and leave him alone, making us wonder if Lee’s character will try to find something truly impressive to watch and then tell the Watchers about, maybe something like a war over the Infinity Stones….
According to the film’s credits, Lee is addressed as ‘The Watcher’s informant’ so we still have no confirmation that he himself is a Watcher or Uatu, but I love the idea of this cameo and the potential for the future jokes and stories that can be spun out of it. What are your thoughts on the big reveal about Lee’s character in the MCU? Do you wish he could have just stayed a random cameo? Or do you hope that soon they will reveal he truly is a Watcher? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Oh, and check out the full synopsis for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ below:
Set to the backdrop of ‘Awesome Mixtape #2,’ Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel cinematic universe continues to expand.