“Sometimes You Gotta Run Before You Can Walk”
As inclined as we are to believe James Gunn – and Marvel Studios by extension – we can’t take them at their word alone. Prior to the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Gunn arranged for Michael Rooker to turn up where Infinity War was filming. In doing so, he disguised the fact that Rooker’s character, Yondu, was already meeting his maker in Vol. 2.
Additionally, the marketing for Thor: Ragnarok conveniently showed Thor in “God mode” with both eyes. This is despite the fact that, at this point in the film’s runtime, Thor had lost one of them in his battle with Hela.
These cases go to show that both Gunn and Marvel are increasingly willing to spare spoilers for audiences whenever possible. Plus, it’s becoming pretty clear that the studio is no longer reluctant to make drastic narrative moves going forward. Since the downfall of S.H.I.E.L.D. in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the MCU has advanced through several unexpected events. Already, fans are discussing the large amount of seemingly dead Asgardians in the trailer for Infinity War, which flies in the face of how the end of Thor: Ragnarok featured the protagonist saving them from extinction.
This has only emphasized how likely it is that some big hitters are going to bow out under Thanos’ onslaught. With all the mayhem that’s set to ensue in Infinity War, the casualties can’t just be confined to the Avengers, can they? Surely a Guardian of the Galaxy will be a goner, too, right?
