Kevin Feige Says Some Phase 5 Cameos May Never Return, Others Could Take 17 Years
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is famous for its interconnected stories, but it’s also super guilty of leaving some loose ends hanging. Phase 5 delivered plenty of exciting cameos, especially in those post-credit stingers, but many fans are wondering: will they ever matter?
We’ve got Charlize Theron’s Clea from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Harry Styles as Eros in Eternals, and Brett Goldstein as Hercules in Thor: Love and Thunder.
According to Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, some of these characters may never make a comeback, while others could return, even if it takes years. And by years, he means a long time. Feige revealed in a roundtable interview with GamesRadar+:
“There are plans for some and there are opportunities for all. It’s about finding what the right moment is. Some, maybe we’ll never see again. Some, maybe we’ll see soon. For some, maybe it’ll be like Tim Blake Nelson and it will take 17 years.”
Seventeen years isn’t an exaggeration. Tim Blake Nelson first played Samuel Sterns, aka The Leader, in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. Fans didn’t see him again until earlier this year in Captain America: Brave New World. That’s the kind of deep-pull patience Feige is hinting at. He continued:
“Who knows? What I love about it is as much about the actors as it is about the characters. It’s as much about our enthusiasm and excitement to work with those actors, which is how almost all those came about – but we will not alter a storyline just to include them simply because they have been seen in the past.”
So, what does this mean for Clea, Eros, Hercules, and other mysterious teases? I guess don’t hold your breath, but never say never. The MCU likes to play the long game.
The future of the MCU is massive, but as Feige made clear, some threads might stay loose for a very long time, if they’re ever tied up at all.