Do you think you know everything there is to know about the
Marvel Cinematic Universe? With 24 years of history, there are just too many pieces of facts for even the most devoted fan to remember. Because at the end of the day, that is what we love about MCU – attention to detail. We can take any scene from a movie and shake out a bundle of fun facts and reference
With all that in mind, we've compiled a list of the most amusing Marvel movie trivia, ranging from possible casting to blink-and-you'll-miss-it Easter eggs. Check them out and let us know if you can know more.
#1 There's a very strange reason why Captain America isn't eating in a post-credits scene of The Avengers.
What happens after you save the earth? Of course, you'll want to eat something. In The Avengers, our superheroes go out for shawarma after regaining control of New York, but Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America, doesn't appear to be participating. This is due to the fact that
Chris Evans had begun to grow a beard for his next film, Snowpiercer, and was unable to shave it in time for the last-minute scene. The actor donned a prosthetic jaw to keep him appearing like our fresh-faced Captain America (who wouldn't grow his own beard until Infinity War). He's not only not eating, but he's also hiding half of his face with his hand.The day after shooting that scene, Robert Downey Jr. showed up at an
Entertainment Weekly panel discussion ahead of his co-star and ask "Where is Chris Evans?" he quipped. "Getting his face replaced?"
#2 Agent Coulson wasn't even supposed to have a name.
Clark Gregg, who started his MCU journey in the first Iron Man, revealed to Cinema Blend that he was initially intended to appear in two sequences. Agent Phil Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D. was, in reality, only a nameless agent in the draft. Gregg's connection with Downey and Gwyneth Paltrow impressed director Jon Favreau, who enlarged the role. Of course, Coulson would go on to play a pivotal role in the Marvel Universe, acting in Iron Man 2, Thor, The Avengers, and Captain Marvel, as well as directing the television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
#3 Thor: Ragnarok has a much different title in Japan.
The phrase Ragnarök alludes to the catastrophic rebirth of the universe in Norse mythology, which influenced the Thor comics, during which many gods were annihilated. Because the third Thor film isn't well-known in Japan, Marvel gave it a much more evocative title for that market. As a result, Thor: Ragnarok was renamed Mighty Thor: Battle Royale, after the popular Japanese novel and the movie about juvenile combatants battling to the death in an arena. (This is not an idea originated by The Hunger Games.) Because Thor is compelled to compete for the Grandmaster's enjoyment, the title has been changed.
#4 Maria's call sign in Captain Marvel references a possible future MCU hero.
In Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers' (Brie Larson) best friend and teammate fighter pilot Maria (Lashana Lynch) carries the call sign "photon." This is a reference to one of her daughter Monica Rambeau's comic book superhero personalities. (She has also been known as Pulsar, Spectrum, and has worn the Captain Marvel mask.) Monica was portrayed by Akira Akbar in the '90s-set film, while Teyonah Parris will play her adult counterpart in the upcoming Disney+ series WandaVision. It's unclear what, if any, superhero nickname she'll use.
#5 Doctor Strange was almost a horror movie.
Or, at the very least, one that is more horror-inspired. Wes Craven (A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream) was reportedly in negotiations to direct a Doctor Strange feature back in 1992. That clearly isn't the case, but it's entertaining to speculate on how terrifying his take on the Marvel sorcerer might have been.
#6 The first person to play Ant-Man onscreen appears in the first movie—and it's not Paul Rudd.
Garrett Morris appeared as Ant-Man in a Saturday Night Live spoof called "Superhero Party" in 1978, with presenter Margot Kidder repeating her Superman role as Lois Lane. According to Morris, Ant-Man director Peyton Reed, who was a lover of the sketch, called his management and requested the performer to make an appearance. You may see him shortly as the driver of a car that Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) lands on while adjusting to his shrinking suit.
#7 The war rhinos in Black Panther were played by really big horses.
Many armored rhinos were mounted by members of Wakanda's Border Tribe, notably Daniel Kaluuya's W'Kabi, in the fight sequence at the end of Black Panther. But, contrary to popular opinion, these tough-skinned warriors aren't totally made of CGI. According to Associate Visual Effects Supervisor Todd Sheridan Perry's comments to VFX Voice, some of the battle rhinos were performed by Clydesdale horses, similar to the ones in the iconic holiday-themed beer ad.
#8 Robert Downey Jr. snuck some tasty props onto the Avengers: Endgame set.
Downey, a senior of the MCU, knew better than anybody else in the massive superhero team-up how difficult it is to make a comic book movie. So he slipped some snacks onto the set, which he would collect and eat during specific sequences without informing anybody else. Tony, on the other hand, offers some contraband delights to the rest of the team in one scene that made it into the film.
#9 Jake Gyllenhaal almost selected to portray Spider-man instead.
Sort of after Tobey Maguire was wounded on the filming of Seabiscuit, Jake Gyllenhaal, who portrays the dishonest and theatrical Quentin Beck/Mysterio, was believed to be taking over for him in 2004's Spider-Man 2. Maguire healed in time to reprise his role as Peter Parker, therefore the point was irrelevant. However, Gyllenhaal has admitted that he was one of several actors considered for the emergency fill-in role.
#10 Peter Quill's ship is named after an '80s icon.
The Milano is not a reference to the Guardians of the Galaxy hero's fondness for sandwich cookies. Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), who fled Earth in the 1980s, is enthralled with its popular culture, from songs to teen celebrities. After the film's 2014 release, Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn stated on Twitter that Peter did, in fact, name his pride and joy after his
celebrity crush, Alyssa Milano, who was enormously popular for her performance on Who's the Boss?
#11 The X-Men almost crossed over with Captain America.
According to rumors, X-Men Members Wolverine and Magneto were supposed to make an appearance in Captain America: The First Avenger. (Both would have been present throughout the film's World War II scenario.) However, because the X-Men are Marvel characters whose big-screen rights are owned by a separate company, the idea never materialized.
#12 An Oscar winner scored Marvel creator Stan Lee's dream role.
The renowned Stan Lee stated in a pre-Thor conversation in 2009 that he would have been keen on playing Thor's father Odin. While the late inventor was famed for making cameo appearances in practically every Marvel picture, the part of the deity was played by Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins.
#13 Avengers: Age of Ultron almost acknowledges the unusual sibling relationship the Maximoffs have in some comics.
Wanda and Pietro Maximoff, a.k.a. Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, were brought into the MCU in Avengers: Age of Ultron as Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, respectively. In some obviously contentious comics, the twins are... let's just say unusually close. While this isn't the reality in Ultron, Olsen actually told Entertainment Weekly that she and Taylor-Johnson "played around with" some of the "uncomfortable visuals" in their depiction of the twins.