There are a lot of strings that connect Joe and Anthony Russo's Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War, but one is a small running joke that fans of the television series Community have been able to follow. Both movies feature a special cameo with an actor from the show -- a loving reference given that the Russo brothers used to be producers on the program and even directed a large number of episodes. It's fun to spot if you're a fan of both Community and Marvel, and the good news is that the cameos will continue in the duo's next blockbuster project: The Avengers: Infinity War.
Being one of those aforementioned fans of both Community and Marvel, I felt compelled to ask the Russos about the cameos when I interviewed them over the phone late last week in advance of Captain America: Civil War's Blu-ray and DVD release September 13th. Noting the roles played by both Danny Pudi in The Winter Soldier (as a S.H.I.E.L.D. com tech) and Jim Rash in Civil War (as an MIT liaison), I asked if we can expect to see yet another Community castmember appear in The Avengers: Infinity War, and Joe Russo explained,
We're literally in that phase of the pre-production where we start thinking about those kinds of things, and right now we're looking for the right part to see who's a match for the next cameo.
I pressed for confirmation that fans can definitely expect a special appearance from a Community actor in the 2018 blockbuster, and Joe Russo enthusiastically replied,
Yeah, absolutely. We've got to keep the streak going.
For those who haven't watched Community (Note: please, do yourself a favor and give it a try), the rest of the show's main cast on beyond Danny Pudi and Jim Rash includes Joel McHale, Allison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, Donald Glover, Chevy Chase, and Yvette Nicole Brown. Of all these actors, only Glover has actually landed a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe thus far, set to appear in 2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming - making him probably the most likely actor to show up in The Avengers: Infinity War. That being said, in the spirit of what the movie is doing in terms of bringing together characters from all over the Marvel Cinematic Universe, perhaps the Russos can actually find a way to reunite most if not all of the comedy show's cast.
It's also worth mentioning that Brie Larson -- a.k.a. the MCU's brand new Captain Marvel -- played a recurring role in three episodes of Community. If she does appear in The Avengers: Infinity War, maybe the Russos have her be a part of whatever the cameo winds up being.
For those of you who are fans, who would you like to see from the Community cast show up in The Avengers: Infinity War? Is there anyone you don't want to see cameo because you think they should have a bigger role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Hit the comments section below with your thoughts, feelings, and opinions.
