Guardians of the Galaxy turned into one of Marvel's most successful films, but before its release the movie set away from the rest of the established MCU, and filled with mostly obscure characters, was seen as something of a risk. Those elements proved to be a highlight for the film, however, and the franchise gave audiences an introduction to Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), Rocket Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper), and Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel).
One of the most surprising appearances in the film, however, was from a Marvel character who, oddly enough, had already starred in his own movie. That was none other than Howard the Duck, who was part of The Collector's artifacts, and was last seen having a drink in the wreckage caused by an Infinity Stone explosion. Since his brief cameo, fans of the character have wondered if he could appear in more films down the road. According to one star of the film, that may be happening.
Bautista recently took part in a panel at Heroes vs. Villains Fan Fest in Atlanta and Comicbook has shared his take on Howard's future. The character has not been confirmed to appear in any upcoming films, but Bautista seems optimistic that he will make another appearance on the big screen as long as James Gunn is around.
"As long as there’s a James Gunn directing the film, there’s a possibility of a Howard the Duck."
Howard the Duck is a lesser-known character, but that has not stopped him from developing his own fan base. It was a surprise to many that he made an appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy, thanks to the poor reputation of his 1986 live-action solo film. However, due to Gunn's style, the far-reaching corners of the universe, and advancements in technology and visual effects, the cinematic future of a duck named Howard could be bright.
While it's unclear whether Bautista is just speaking generally, or if he actually knows of some plans to have Howard appear in a future installment, if the character is going to appear in an MCU movie soon, the best chance he has is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
It is unlikely that Howard will get another shot at a solo film, but there are places beyond Gunn's neck of the woods where an appearance by the anthropomorphized duck might be welcome. With Thor: Ragnarok being described as a galactic road trip, it wouldn't be outside the realm of possibility for the character to appear in Taika Watiti's upcoming film. Although it is admittedly more unlikely, there is a chance Howard might be up for an appearance in Avengers: Infinity War, or even the fourth Avengers film. It will be all hands on deck to stop Thanos' impending attack, and you never know what could be up the sleeve of a character like Howard the Duck that might tip the scales in the heroes' favor.
Source: Comicbook
