Despite being 93 years of age, Stan "The Man" Lee is still going strong. However, in recent years, the comic book creator has been cutting down on convention appearances, so it came as no real surprise to learn that Marvel Studios shot his next four cameos - Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Thor: Ragnarok - in one go to save him a little bit of travelling time.
However, what might surprise you is the fact that it was actually James Gunn who shot most of them. Talking to Entertainment Weekly recently, Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson revealed: "It’s a big deal for a 93-year-old man to go to a movie set and spend a day shooting. James shot four cameos with Stan in one day. James was texting me the frame. Does this look right? Does this look good?"
That's an impressive feat, and shows just how much thought Marvel put into their movies in advance. Of course, it definitely helps that the four releases listed about were all in various stages of prouction at the same time, but it was still good of Gunn to step up and shoot these for his fellow directors. Since this story broke, the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 helmer has taken to Facebook to further explain how it came about and the fact that he was in reality only actually responsible for THREE of them.
And it was definitely one of the most fun times I've ever had on set. There are few people in this world I love and admire more and have more fun with than Stan Lee. Even though he does love breaking my, and everyone else's balls (I introduced him to Tom Holland for the first time and he said, "Everyone says you're great! Personally, I don't see it."). Although, to be honest, I think I only did THREE cameos - one was shot by someone else. And my third probably isn't what you think it is...
If you've seen the Doctor Strange cameo, it was one of MANY versions I shot on the day, and Scott Derrickson chose the final one. If I'm writing for Stan, why give him one line when I can give him a thousand? I just kept throwing lines at him one after the other, until we were all doubled over with laughter. Someday, after you've seen the movie, maybe Marvel Studios will let me share some of those with you. And hopefully you'll see the movie next week - in IMAX, where it's definitely best seen!
Who shot the fourth? Was one of them NOT for the movies we've all assumed it was? That looks like it will be a mystery for the time being, but feel free to weigh in with your thoughts and theories below.