STAN LEE marvel guardians of the galaxy-min
[Photo via YouTube]

A Marvel fan theory actually inspired this iconic Stan Lee cameo

Since its beginning, the Marvel Universe has been a breeding ground for fan theories. As a franchise that spans over a decade, fans have always speculated various rumors and theories over the years. Now, Guardians Of The Galaxy director James Gunn has revealed how one particular scene was inspired by a popular fan theory.

On Twitter, the director reveals that Stan Lee‘s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 cameo came to be because of a theory.

Read more: See how an unreleased film inspired BMTH’s “Parasite Eve” video

Prior to his death, Marvel Comics legend Stan Lee made cameos in various MCU films. Sometimes he appeared as a bus driver or a party guest. Throughout all of his cameos, however, no explanations have ever been given on Lee’s particular characters. We do know that he always seemingly appears when something dangerous is about to happen or when he’s near a hero.

All of these cameos eventually led some Marvel fans to speculate that Lee played the character of Uatu, the Watcher. In the comics, the Watchers are an ancient race of evolved beings. Together, they are tasked with recording the evolutional history of other species. Uatu is specifically the Watcher assigned to Earth and frequently helps the comics’ heroes fight off any threats.

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, there’s a scene that depicts interdimensional travel. During this moment, viewers get a glimpse of Lee sitting on an asteroid in a spacesuit while talking with the Watchers. At the end of the film, fans get another glimpse of Lee in the same place. However, this time Lee is pleading with the Watchers to help him get off the asteroid.

Read more: Linkin Park’s “In The End” video just reached this YouTube milestone

The Guardians of the Galaxy scene doesn’t directly confirm that Lee is a Watcher. However, it seemingly confirms that he is someone who has worked for them in the past. This makes his character more powerful than is depicted in other MCU appearances.

Following this iconic cameo from Lee, some fans were thrilled to see the fan theory being embraced by the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Now, Gunn is further confirming that those at Marvel Studios are always paying attention to fan theories.

After a curious Marvel fan asked the director how the cameo came to be, Gunn revealed that it was the fan theory that inspired it.

“Sometimes, sure,” he tweets. “For instance, Stan Lee’s connection to the Watchers in Vol. 2 was definitely inspired by fan theories.”

In 2017, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige also revealed that he believes in the fan theory that Lee’s cameos are all the same character.

Read more: The ‘Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater’ documentary finally has a release date

“Yes, we always thought it would be fun,” Feige says. “Stan Lee clearly exists, you know, above and apart from the reality of all the films. So the notion that he could be sitting there on a cosmic pit stop during the jump gate sequence in Guardians was something very fun. James had that idea and we shot that cameo and loved it so much, you know, you see it a couple of times in the movie. It wasn’t in for a long time and we put it back in towards the end of the process where he references that time he was a Federal Express agent. We thought it would be fun to put that in there because that really says, so wait a minute, he’s this same character who’s popped up in all these films.”

Stan Lee’s brief Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 cameo is available to watch below.

What are your thoughts on the Stan Lee fan theory? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!