Since stamping their authority on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Russo Brothers have rewarded fans with such entertaining installments as Captain America: The Winter Solider and most recently Captain America: Civil War. The pair have not only impressed with their on-screen directing but are the proud filmmakers behind two highly-successful movies in the process - as The Winter Solider amassed $714 million in theaters worldwide, with the latter totaling nearly $1.2 billion.
Yet it isn't simply their stellar film making and deft handling of Marvel's beloved characters that has cast a spell upon its fan base. A number of viewers have picked up on the Russo' recurring in-film tribute to the cult hit comedy TV series Community.
It's fitting enough, as the Russos were once producers on Community and directed several episodes, too. When D.C. Pierson (who appeared in a handful of Community episodes) showed up in Winter Soldier as an annoying Apple Store employee, it seemed like a nice, playful, nod. Later, when Daniel Pudi's nervy S.H.I.E.L.D. technician popped up (see the video above), people began to notice an emerging pattern. Civil War then featured a cameo from Jim Rash (Greendale's flamboyant Dean Pelton), so it was therefore only a matter of time before someone asked about the continuation of this in-joke cameos, especially with Avengers: Infinity War on the horizon.
Said Community cameos will indeed carry on into Infinity War, as Joe Russo informed Cinema Blend:
"We're literally in that phase of the pre-production where we start thinking about those kinds of things, and right now we're looking for the right part to see who's a match for the next cameo."
That's no doubt exciting news for fans of Community, even if these Marvel film cameos continue to be blink-and-you'll-miss-it matters. However, the question remains: who from the Community cast will appear in Infinity War? The Russo brothers are keeping mum on that for now, with Anthony Russo in particular having simply answered "Yeah, absolutely. We've got to keep the streak going."
At present, we're yet to have seen the likes of Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Allison Brie, Donald Glover, Chevy Chase, and/or Yvette Nicole Brown show up in an MCU film. Due to his casting in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Glover is already set to make an MCU appearance - though that doesn't mean he can't make another. And on a related note: Marvel's latest major MCU addition, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, actually appeared in 3 episodes of Community. So, if Carol Danvers does show up in Infinity War (as rumored), that would make for a bonus Community shout-out.
For now, we'll have to wait and see exactly what sort of Community nod we do get in Infinity War. Maybe Stan Lee and Chevy Chase will both pop up together, as a pair of rascally old-timers?
Next: Russo Brothers Tease New 'Beginning' For MCU
Doctor Strange opens November 4, 2016; Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – May 5, 2017; Spider-Man: Homecoming– July 7, 2017; Thor: Ragnarok – November 3, 2017;Black Panther – February 16, 2018; Avengers: Infinity War – May 4, 2018; Ant-Man and the Wasp – July 6, 2018; Captain Marvel– March 8, 2019; Untitled Avengers – May 3, 2019; and as-yet untitled Marvel movies on July 12, 2019, and on May 1, July 10, and November 6 in 2020.
Source: Cinema Blend