Entertainment

Stan Lee: Six Upcoming Movies May Have Cameos of the Late Comic Book Icon

We haven't seen the last of Stan Lee.

by Corey Plante

Marvel Comics icon Stan Lee died on Monday at the age of 95, but his legacy in the world of entertainment will live on for many years to come. He became an instantly recognizable figure in the broader entertainment world, thanks to his consistent cameos across the many Marvel films and TV shows, most notably the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Audiences are bound to see and hear Lee over the next few years in posthumous roles filmed before his death, but how many can we expect? Lee famously filmed his cameos in batches.

When speaking with BBC Radio (as reported by Screen Rant), director Joe Russo confirmed that Lee had more MCU cameos filmed.

“So, Stan, typically we try to get him out — he doesn’t love to fly — so we try to get him out for his cameos around the same time,” Russo said. “So if we have other movies shooting on the same lot that we’re on, for instance, Ant-Man 2 or Avengers 4, we group his cameos together and then move him from one set to the next and kind of get him through his cameos in one day.”

Based on this and other clues we know about, here’s are six films and television shows where we can still expect to see, or hear, from Lee.

6. Ralph Breaks the Internet

The second animated Wreck-It Ralph movie hits theaters on November 21. Screen Rant reported that at D23 Expo in July 2017, footage exclusive to the event revealed that in the movie Ralph and Vanellope “run across famous Star Wars droid C-3PO and Stormtroopers as well as a booth that turns characters into members of the Avengers or Marvel Comics’ icon Stan Lee.”

It’s unclear whether or not Lee actually lends his voice to Ralph Breaks the Internet, but outlets are labeling it as a cameo, so Lee probably has at least one line.

Ralph Breaks the Internet hits theaters and breaks the internet on November 21, 2018.

Bonus: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

At New York Comic Con in early October, Sony Pictures screened a rough, unfinished cut of the first 35 minutes of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Those in attendance, us included, “swore” to Sony and the filmmakers not to reveal any spoilers or details before the film’s release on December 14.

What we can say is to just keep your eyes peeled if you’re looking Stan Lee. His cameo is short and easy to miss.

Stan Lee will seemingly reprise his cameo role from 'Mallrats' in an upcoming film.

Gramercy Pictures

5. Madness in the Method

Lee has an acting credit on an upcoming film from Jason Mewes called Madness in the Method, in which Mewes descends into madness as he attempts method acting. The whole thing seemingly takes place in the Jay and Silent Bob universe with Mewes reprising the role of Jay as he tries to kill Bob, and maybe even Danny Trejo.

So there’s a lot going on.

Lee’s credited as “Stan,” which probably means he plays himself, a continuation of his iconic role in Mallrats (1995). Madness in the Method has no confirmed release date, having been seemingly stuck in post-production for quite some time now, but it’s expected by the end of 2018, according to IMDb.

4. Captain Marvel

There’s no real confirmation just yet about whether or not Stan Lee filmed a cameo for Captain Marvel, but considering he definitely has one in Avengers 4 and Captain Marvel comes out before that, it seems likely. Production on the two movies overlapped somewhat, so it stands to reason Lee might’ve filmed a cameo alongside Carol Danvers around the same time he did for Avengers 4.

Mark this one as highly likely.

One Reddit fan wrote a theory that Stan Lee’s Captain Marvel cameo would be digitally de-aged to look like Lee in the ‘90s, which is when the film takes place. Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and Clark Gregg’s Agent Coulson will both be digitally de-aged for Captain Marvel, so doing the same with Stan Lee would be a fun idea. But considering Lee’s death, it might also be in poor taste if that is the case.

Captain Marvel will be released on March 8, 2019.

Much like Iron Man, Stan Lee is back for 'Avengers 4'.

Marvel Studios

3. Avengers 4

Stan Lee will definitely appear in Avengers 4 in some fashion. Director Joe Russo has confirmed that Lee filmed his cameo for Ant-Man and the Wasp at the same time he did for Avengers 4.

There’s no telling what form Lee’s Avengers 4 cameo might take, but in April 2017, Marvel did confirm a popular fan theory that Stan Lee is Uatu, a kind of celestial being witnessing the rise of heroes. Lee usually plays seemingly innocuous bit parts, but in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Lee’s character chats with ancient aliens called Watchers.

Could he reprise that more significant role in Avengers 4 to cap all of his appearances in some kind of grand finale? Hopefully! Realistically, Avengers 4 could be Lee’s final Marvel cameo. Considering this movie will end an entire era of Marvel movies, it could make for a fitting send-off to Lee.

Avengers 4 will be released in theaters on May 3, 2019.

2. Dark Phoenix

Stan Lee has had a cameo in almost every X-Men film to date (except for Logan), including X-Men: Apocalypse and Deadpool 2 (in the form of graffiti, anyway). He even managed a brief scene in Fox’s The Gifted TV show. But will he appear in Dark Phoenix? The sad truth is probably not.

Dark Phoenix was in production at the same time as Deadpool 2, and in that movie, he only appears as a graffiti on the side of a random wall. If Deadpool 2 couldn’t get him, then it’s unlikely that Dark Phoenix could.

'Far From Home' probably has a Stan Lee cameo.

Marvel Studios

1. Spider-Man: Far From Home

Much like with Captain Marvel, Stan Lee is expected to have some kind of cameo in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Especially because he typically filmed his cameos in batches, it’s possible that he filmed the Far From Home cameo around the same time he filmed one for Venom — both films were produced by Sony Pictures.

Is it also possible that Marvel Studios filmed Lee’s New York City-based Avengers: Infinity War cameo at the same time they filmed his Far From Home cameo? Both scenes could potentially take place in New York City. The sad truth, however, is that Spider-Man: Far From Home didn’t start filming until July 2018 and was in Europe until early October.

Unless Marvel Studios was really forward-thinking, it’s unlikely that Lee had time to film a cameo for Far From Home. Recall that he was suddenly hospitalized in February 2018, so it’s unlikely that he had the strength to travel, let alone perform on camera.

We won’t know for sure either way until Far From Home hits theaters.

Spider-Man: Far From Home will be released on July 5, 2019.

Below are some of Inverse‘s most-read stories about Stan Lee.