It Took 8 Years, But Marvel Fans Finally Fixed Stan Lee’s Most Confusing MCU Cameo

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As a die-hard Marvel fan, I’ve got an intriguing theory about Stan Lee’s cameo in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” that ties him deeply into the superhero universe’s rich history! You see, way back in ’39, ol’ Stan was climbing his way up at Marvel Comics, eventually taking on the role of the company’s main creative force for two decades straight. During this time, he brought to life some of the most iconic characters – Spidey, Iron Man, Daredevil, Scarlet Witch, Fantastic Four, and many more! Even after he hung up his creative boots, Stan remained an essential part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) phenomenon, contributing significantly to its development. And just when we thought he couldn’t get any cooler, guess who popped up in the movies too? That’s right, none other than our legendary creator himself!

In numerous Marvel films and series, such as nearly every movie in the Infinity Saga, Stan Lee often made brief appearances as various minor characters. For instance, he appeared in 2017’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” as a man updating a group of alien Watchers about his experiences within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This scene has sparked some debate over the years, particularly after the release of the animated “What If…?” series. However, a theory on Reddit speculates that Stan Lee might have been working for Jeffrey Wright’s character, Uatu the Watcher, within the Marvel universe.

[MCU] Explaining Stan Lee and the Three Watchers in Guardians Vol. 2 (spoilers for What If…? S3)
byu/Petrichor02 inFanTheories

What Does This MCU Theory Reveal About Stan Lee’s Cameos?

The Reddit hypothesis proposes an inconsistency in Stan Lee’s role as a Watcher informant within “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”. Given that Watchers can survey all events across the multiverse, Lee’s function in this film seems illogical and implies he had another part to play in Marvel’s Phase 3. In the upcoming “What If…?”, Uatu confronted a trio of Watchers: The Eminence (Jason Isaacs), The Incarnate (D. C. Douglas), and The Executioner (Darin De Paul). This theory proposes that these three Watchers from “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” could have been the ones Uatu encountered in “What If…?”.

In the third season of “What If…?”, this threesome of overseers grilled beings from various universes to gather evidence against Uatu, as they suspected him of interfering in their lives and altering the trajectory of numerous timelines. It’s possible that one of the individuals Uatu helped could have been Stan Lee’s informant, maybe someone he saved as far back as 2008 during “The Incredible Hulk”. In this story, Lee’s character unknowingly drank a Pingo Doce soda tainted with some of Bruce Banner’s gamma-irradiated blood. Uatu might have assigned Stan Lee to monitor or influence events on Earth 616, while he explored alternate realities.

This theory suggests that Stan Lee’s consistent appearances across various timelines in the MCU’s Infinity Saga are explained by some supernatural means, as he appeared unchanged whether the project was set in the 1940s or present day. Additionally, this theory explains why his cameos decreased following his appearance in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’. However, after Lee’s unfortunate passing in 2018, he made two posthumous appearances in ‘Captain Marvel’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame’. In the MCU, it is hypothesized that the Watchers may have removed his extraordinary abilities, allowing him to live a normal life following an interrogation.

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2025-08-28 17:42