Since their first film, Marvel Studios has made an effort to give viewers a little something extra after the credits have begun to roll. It all started with Iron Man and Samuel L. Jackson debuting as Nick Fury, but has since evolved into something that fans demand to see. The mid and post-credits scenes have been used to introduce new characters like Fury, provide a fun gag like the shawarma bit after The Avengers, or tease the future of these characters, like Doctor Strange's appearance in Thor: Ragnarok.

As the MCU moves closer and closer to Avengers: Infinity War, these scenes have oftentimes been used to begin to lay the foundation for the epic battle. Even though Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is not going to include Thanos or Infinity Stones in the actual cut of the film, it could help bridge the franchise into the larger story. Now, that seems even more likely to be the case with a post-credits scene being confirmed.

Director James Gunn discussed the presence of the stinger on Twitter when responding to a fan's inquiry about whether or not he had to stay through the credits. While his response does not specify whether both mid and post-credits scenes will be included, Gunn stresses that everyone should stay seated, barring a life and death scenario.

All I’ll say is, unless you have to rush out because your mother is dying, stay through the entire end credits. https://t.co/c58nzDeCnp— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) March 11, 2017

The inclusion of either a mid or post-credits scene (or hopefully both) is not going to be a surprise to anyone. There has not been a single MCU movie that has not featured one or the other, but their most recent films have typically featured both. With Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 set to be the characters' final appearances before appearing in Infinity War, it would be quite surprising if whatever scene is shown after the events of the film does not help push the Guardians in this direction.

With Gunn's phrasing pointing directly toward a post-credits scene, the inclusion of a mid-credits scene has not yet been confirmed. However, if the post-credits scene does point to the larger picture of the MCU, Marvel Studios would likely allow Gunn to use the mid-credits scene for a fun beat that isn't too important to the larger universe. After all, the dancing Baby Groot mid-credits scene is one of the character's most beloved moments. With the character being heavily featured in the marketing, it would not be surprising to see him used for one final gag at the end of the film.

Regardless of what could possibly be shown in these scenes, it is great to know so early on that those that stick through the credits will be rewarded. Now we just need to wait until May to see what the surprise will be.

Source: James Gunn

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