Marvel fans have been wondering about the true meaning behind Stan Lee’s many cameos in the MCU for years, but this wild new theory suggests that the lid was meant to be lifted on the mystery in Avengers: Endgame before the legendary comic book creator’s passing necessitated a major change.
The theory goes that Lee’s enigmatic character was to have been revealed as Old Man Cap all along. Reddit user MergTheDurgen suggests that the plan was to have the Marvel legend turn up after Tony Stark’s funeral and hand over the Captain America shield to Sam Wilson. However, once Lee passed away or perhaps became too ill to shoot the scenes, Chris Evans stepped in to play the older version of the hero.
The theorist uses some curious cameos from Lee over the MCU’s past that could point to him being Old Cap checking in on his friends without letting them know who he was and breaking the timeline. In Winter Soldier, he’s a security guard for his own museum exhibit. In Age of Ultron, he’s a war veteran and in Infinity War, he’s unfazed by the spaceship appearing in New York.
For those cameos taking place in other times or planets, the Redditor points to the fact that Old Steve could use Pym Particles to go wherever he wants in the timeline. In The First Avenger, for instance, he wanted to go back to where his story began. And in Guardians Vol. 2, he’s explaining to the Watchers about his shenanigans.
Obviously, there are a few flaws in this theory or leaps of logic required to make it work, but it’s an entertaining idea all the same. Some fans are even saying they’d prefer it to the controversial conclusion to Avengers: Endgame that we got. Are you sold on this theory, though? Let us know in the comments section below.
