Brie Larson was cast as Carol Danvers a.k.a. Captain Marvel a while ago and as we visited the new offices of Marvel Studios we saw concept art of the character's live-action costume. Similar art has been shared officially by Disney and Marvel Studios since then so it seemed rather obvious she'd show up and at least be introduced in Avengers: Infinity War.

When we visited the set of Avengers: Infinity War last summer in Atlanta, we even saw Brie Larson's mailbox in the production offices alongside the other stars of the movie. Needless to say we were weren't surprised when directors Anthony and Joe Russo straight up acknowledged her presence that day on set.

Related: Captain Marvel May Be A Last Minute Avengers: Infinity War Cameo

But then came Comic-Con International in San Diego last summer - a month after we were on set - where the Russos flipped the script and said Carol Danvers would not be in the movie. With Captain Marvel currently in production (check out these set photos), kickstarting Marvel's 2019 slate and leading into to the still-untitled Avengers 4 next summer, we wanted to shed some light on this and explain what's really going on. Is Captain Marvel in Avengers: Infinity Waror not?!

First, here's a snippet from our group Q&A with the Russos from June 7, 2017 when they were uncertain of what they could say at the time:

Who would you say has the best costume in this movie?

Joe Russo: Is it ...? Where's [unit publicist John Pisani]? I can't remember if we - Captain Marvel on set, is that official? If it's not, it's official now. I think Captain Marvel had a great outfit.

She has a mailbox that we saw earlier. And we saw the concept art at Marvel Studios.

Joe Russo: I just don't need my phone filling up with 42 text messages-

You guys introduced Black Panther before his movie was signed, and now Captain Marvel before her movie. What is the different approach between those two characters, how do guys you go about that and have you met with the director-

Joe Russo: Again, just how we feel about those characters and how we want their expression to be and then when the next writer, if I'm using this analogy between comic books, slash director picks it up, they pick it up where they want to pick it up, and they take it where they want to go with it. I haven't seen a lot of blowback from the way that people reach out, I think people get excited. I mean look at the fucking views for the Ragnarok trailer. Taika [Waititi]'s point of view is really clear in that movie, and people went crazy. I don't think you're looking at it going "Jeez, that's not a hand off from The Dark World tone, or from the first Thor tone." I think you're responding to the fact that it's a reinvention of it.

The costume compliments are accurate, but Captain Marvel's role in the movie not so much anymore. Disney has confirmed this with us, that what the Russos said at SDCC is true - Captain Marvel is not in Avengers: Infinity War.

Things change during production, especially on Marvel movies where each can tie into future movies (that are still changing and haven't been announced) or as new scenes are added and changed based on the dailies they're getting. Avengers: Infinity War is an even more extreme case of this for Marvel since some talent aren't getting script pages until the day of shooting to maintain as much secrecy as possible.

What we can say is that Captain Marvel is not in Avengers: Infinity War and it could be because her role just didn't fit this part of the larger story, or that her modern-day introduction is simply being saved for later. Perhaps Captain Marvel directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck had a different plan in mind once they got closer to production and after a few script revisions. All we know is that what was planned last summer has changed when it comes to any potential involvement of Brie Larson's Carol Danvers in the third Avengers installment. That said, we still expect some sort of tease, even if it's a post-credits button scene teeing up the Captain Marvel movie or her introduction in the modern era in Avengers 4. That or everyone's lying and creating confusion!

The superhero origins of Carol Danvers will be explored in Captain Marvel next year which is mostly set in the '90s, and there's a big reason why it's the last movie before Avengers 4 concludes the current version of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She's its most powerful hero.

More: Captain Marvel Costume Will Make Fans ‘Happy’ Says Marvel Artist

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