If there is one absolute in this world for all geeks, nerds and spazzes it's that you always make time for Stan Lee. The man is responsible for everything we hold dear in this world, so when time needs taken out of your schedule to do something for him, you better do it. This is something James Gunn took to heart, and took time out of his very busy schedule to ensure we all get to witness Lee’s greatness.
Taking to his Facebook page, Gunn talked about how he directed not one, not two, but three of the upcoming Stan Lee cameos for various Marvel films. This is of course while he's still working on GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2, but obviously working with Lee was the ultimate pleasure:
“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.")
Earlier reports from DOCTOR STRANGE director Scott Derrickson at EW PopFest said Gunn did “four cameos with Stan in one day,” but Gunn quickly amended that:
“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…”
One of the cameos was done for DOCTOR STRANGE, and Gunn wrote about how it was the final version of many others, and how he hopes we will get to see all of said editions:
“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.
Gunn made one of Marvel's best with the first GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY movie, and the preview for the sequel has received winning praises from everyone in the known universe. It's because of this why I'm glad he's immersing himself so much into the MCU, bringing his style to projects outside the GUARDIANS realm, even if those projects are small cameos. The man is great at wringing out all the juices he can from even the smallest interaction on screen, so directing small snippets for the legend is right up his alley. But, really, can anything top "Tony Stank"?
Catch Gunn's next directorial effort, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 with Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel on May 5, 2017, and keep an eye out for the Stan Lee cameo in DOCTOR STRANGE this Friday.