Avengers: Endgame is practically one big tribute to the last eleven years of superhero cinema, and so it’s only fitting that the movie is packed with surprise cameos. But while most of these appearances were presumably intended as mere callbacks to previous adventures, one particular cameo has been interpreted by some fans as a potential tease of the character making a full on comeback in Marvel’s Phase 4. Bear in mind that spoilers lie ahead.
The character in question is Harley Keener, played by Ty Simpkins. So far, the Jurassic World actor has appeared in only two MCU movies: first as a major character in 2013’s Iron Man 3, then again at the funeral of Tony Stark in the closing minutes of Endgame. But if you thought that this fleeting appearance in the Avengers: Infinity War sequel might be building up to something bigger, co-director Joe Russo’s recent comments to Chinese site Youth Circle suggest otherwise.
“He is a character in Iron Man 3, and he will not appear in the future,” Russo explained. “Who knows? We just think that he should attend Iron Man’s funeral. As for his future, I have nothing to say.”
From the sound of things, the Russo Brothers meant Simpkins’ cameo as little more than a sweet little reference to Tony’s third solo adventure, but like Joe said, who knows? Maybe Harley will ultimately be inspired by Iron Man to get into the superhero game. Perhaps he can even join the rumored Young Avengers alongside a newly grown up Cassie Lang.
In any case, it all lies in the hands of Marvel Studios and Simpkins whether or not Harley has a future beyond Avengers: Endgame. But in the meantime, Tony’s other young companion Peter Parker returns to the fray with the release of Spider-Man: Far From Home on July 2nd.