10 Surprising Marvel Cameos You Totally Forgot About

The Marvel Cinematic Universe initially began as an audacious endeavor linking various superhero films, but it has since morphed into something much larger than just a successful franchise – it’s more like a powerful natural phenomenon. Encompassing over 30 movies, numerous TV series, and several special shorts, this extensive universe continues to develop the broader narrative in creative ways that keep fans engaged. The MCU has managed to take lesser-known characters and turn them into familiar faces, delivering captivating performances from esteemed actors while maintaining their authentic comic book identities. Although not every project within the MCU has been universally acclaimed by critics or viewers, its numerous successes and upcoming highly anticipated projects suggest that it’s here to stay for quite some time.

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve always been captivated by the evolution of superhero films in Hollywood. Once viewed as light-hearted and trivial, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has grown to such epic proportions that it has attracted some of the biggest names in entertainment to make fleeting appearances on our screens. Some of these cameos are so swift, they can easily slip our minds. Here, let’s delve into 10 of those blink-and-you’ll-miss-them appearances.

Elon Musk in Iron Man 2

Elon Musk scarcely requires an introduction; he’s the business magnate behind the establishment or co-founding of significant enterprises such as PayPal, SpaceX, Tesla, SolarCity, OpenAI, Neuralink, and The Boring Company. Currently, he holds ownership of X (previously known as Twitter).

In Iron Man 2, he made a cameo as himself, engaging in a lavish conversation where he presented an idea for an electric jet to Tony Stark. Stark seemed uninterested at first, replying nonchalantly, “You do? Then we’ll make it work.” It seems that Stark moved on from the encounter, possibly letting go of the thought about the other wealthy industrialist.

Rob Zombie in Guardians of the Galaxy and Vol. 2

Initially gaining recognition through his heavy metal group White Zombie, Rob Zombie subsequently built a solid solo music career for himself. Moreover, he has garnered significant fame in the horror movie industry, with credits as both writer and director for movies like “House of 1000 Corpses,” “The Devil’s Rejects,” and “The Lords of Salem” among others.

In a break from his usual heavy metal and horror projects, the Zombie character provided his unique vocal talent for a voice-acting role as the Ravager Navigator, appearing in cameo appearances in the initial two movies of the “Guardians of the Galaxy” series.

Lou Ferrigno in The Incredible Hulk, The Avengers, and Avengers: Age of Ultron

Lou Ferrigno was initially a professional bodybuilder who transitioned into acting, becoming well-known for embodying Marvel Comics’ green colossus in the hit television series, “The Incredible Hulk.” Following this, he has appeared in numerous movies and TV programs, with a notable role being his recurring part in the sitcom “The King of Queens.

He appeared as a lively extra in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s second installment, “The Incredible Hulk” (2008), having previously played the same role in the non-MCU movie “Hulk” (2003). Additionally, he provided the voice for this character in both the original film and the movies “The Avengers” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Tom Morello in Iron Man

Tom Morello is renowned across the globe for his exceptional skills on the electric guitar. His fame initially came from his work with the band Rage Against the Machine, and later, he gained further recognition as a member of Audioslave. Additionally, he has collaborated with Prophets of Rage, Bruce Springsteen and his E Street Band, and various other side and solo projects.

In a fleeting appearance that might go unnoticed, Morello played the role of a guard for terrorists in the movie Iron Man. This was during the scene where Tony Stark manages to escape from the hideout of the Ten Rings with his Mark I suit. To add to this, Morello contributed some rocking guitar tracks to the film’s soundtrack as well.

Luke Hemsworth in Thor: Ragnarok & Thor: Love and Thunder

Luke Hemsworth, an actor hailing from Australia, is primarily recognized for his portrayal of Ashley Stubbs in the HBO series “Westworld.” Additionally, he’s made appearances on various Australian television programs such as “Neighbours,” “The Saddle Club,” and “Blue Heelers,” among others.

If you didn’t already know, he is the elder sibling of Chris Hemsworth, famously known for portraying Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In a delightful familial tribute, Luke Hemsworth appeared as a character portraying Thor in the movies “Thor: Ragnarok” and “Thor: Love and Thunder.” He humorously recreated scenes from his brother’s adventures in these roles.

Jim Starlin in Avengers: Endgame)

Jim Starlin is a well-known comic book artist and author, known for creating or collaborating on iconic Marvel characters such as Thanos, Drax the Destroyer, Gamora, Nebula, and Shang-Chi. These characters have gained widespread recognition due to their appearances in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe). Furthermore, he’s responsible for rejuvenating the cosmic Marvel characters Adam Warlock and Captain Marvel.

As a devoted film enthusiast, it’s no surprise that Marvel Studios would grant him a cameo in their epic production, “Avengers: Endgame.” It’s a fleeting moment, but if you pay close attention, you’ll spot Starlin among the members of Steve Rogers’ support group.

Trevor Noah in Black Panther & Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Trevor Noah serves as a TV presenter, stand-up comic, author, program creator, political analyst, and performer. He gained significant recognition for his tenure as the host of The Daily Show, succeeding its former host, Jon Stewart.

Pay attention and you’ll notice Noah’s voice coming from Griot, the AI program designed by Shuri for scientific research. However, although Griot was primarily built for lab work, he has played crucial roles in many battles, such as guiding Everett Ross during his pursuit of Killmonger’s jets or assisting Shuri in her fight against Namor.

Ed Brubaker in Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Ed Brubaker is widely recognized among comic book enthusiasts; he’s penned stories for prominent DC series like Batman, Catwoman, and The Authority, along with Marvel Comics titles such as Captain America, Daredevil, and Uncanny X-Men. Notably, it was during his tenure on Captain America that he brought Bucky Barnes back to life as the Winter Soldier.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but acknowledge the familiar face from my favorite comic book series, “Captain America,” during the scene where Bucky’s handler was revealed in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” It was none other than Edwin Brubaker’s creation, Steve Rogers, beginning to regain his memories. I can only imagine how proud Mr. Brubaker must have felt, witnessing his brainchild come to life on the big screen.

Garrett Morris in Ant-Man

Garrett Morris is a well-established television actor, renowned for his exceptional skills that have graced numerous comedy series such as Saturday Night Live, The Jeffersons, and The Jamie Foxx Show. His more recent roles can be found in shows like Shameless, 2 Broke Girls, and How I Met Your Father.

In the movie Ant-Man, he briefly appeared as an ordinary citizen whose vehicle was accidentally toppled by Scott Lang when he was testing his new suit equipped with Pym particles for the first time. This subtle reference is reminiscent of a popular Saturday Night Live sketch, where Morris portrayed Ant-Man at a superhero gathering.

Miley Cyrus in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Is there any doubt about who Miley Cyrus is? Following her stint on the Disney Channel show Hannah Montana, she has cemented herself as one of the most renowned and accomplished pop artists in history.

In the closing credits of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”, the versatile performer provided her distinctive vocals for the character Mainframe, who belonged to Stakar Ogord’s group – a team reminiscent of the original Guardians of the Galaxy comic book squad – as far as her voice-acting role is concerned.

2025-01-26 23:10