Every few months there's a new Marvel TV show on the air or another Marvel Studios feature film in theaters and the frequency of new properties being adapted from Marvel Comics is only growing. Even this morning, just when we thought we knew the plan for Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, an Ant-Man sequel was announced alongside three untitled films coming in 2020.
While Marvel is willing to take "risks" in exploring obscure characters, some characters may never get the chance to lead their own film, even some who had a chance previously. Sorry Howard the Duck.
Debuting on the big screen for the first time in nearly three decades, writer and director James Gunn brought Howard the Duck to life in a fun post-credits button of Guardians of the Galaxy. The brief scene features Howard, free from imprisonment, making a snide comment about a dog (Cosmo) licking The Collector's (Benicio del Toro) face.
For this cameo role, James Gunn enlisted the help of real-life pal and voice actor veteran Seth Green (Robot Chicken) to voice Howard the Duck. And it worked! The scene, while serving as a joke, did lead to Marvel Comics relaunching a solo series for the character and now there are fans who want to see more of him in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If Howard could somehow get his own movie in 1986, he could get one now when Marvel movies reign supreme at the box office, right?
Not so, according to Seth Green who while at New York Comic-Con this week told IGN the honest truth about where fans should set their Howard the Duck expectations. At best, he'll likely only make more cameo appearances. "Nobody's thinking about a Howard the Duck movie," laughed Green before reiterating that "it's not going to happen."
With del Toro returning as The Collector for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, why can't Marvel's most inappropriate duck? After all, James Gunn makes an effort out of involving his friends in all of his projects. We'll see Howard again.
Next: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Begins Prep in Atlanta
Captain America: Civil War will release on May 6, 2016, followed by Doctor Strange - November 4, 2016; Guardians of the Galaxy 2 - May 5, 2017; Spider-Man - July 28, 2017; Thor: Ragnarok - November 3, 2017; Black Panther - February 16, 2018; The Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 - May 4, 2018; Ant-Man and the Wasp - July 6, 2018; Captain Marvel - March 8, 2019; The Avengers: Infinity War Part 2 – May 3, 2019; Inhumans – July 12, 2019; and as-yet untitled Marvel movies on May 1, July 10 and November 6, 2020.