Although he wasn't an actor by trade, over nearly two decades we grew accustomed to seeing Stan Lee on the big screen, thanks to his cameos in various comic book films. With his passing, Anthony Russo directed Stan Lee in cameos in multiple MCU films with his brother Jo, spoke about what "The Man" was like on set. This includes his work on Infinity War and the highly anticipated Avengers 4.
He was just exuberant. The energy he would bring to set, especially at his age, was stunning. You could tell he just loved to be there. It lit him up. Like Joe said, he lit everybody else up around him. He was the kinda guy ... he always wanted more lines, he always wanted to do more, which is fantastic. It was a great lesson that, even for these small moments, he's bringing everything to the table that he possibly can to make the most of a moment. I think that's one of the things that was so special about him.
Anthony Russo's praise here is exactly what you would want to hear and expect about Stan Lee. It seems that on set Stan Lee was everything he came across to be onscreen and through his various public appearances. Despite his old age, he was enthusiastic, energetic and upbeat. Lee has been described as a positive presence on the set, lighting up everyone around him.
Stan Lee once spoke about why he liked doing cameos so much, saying that for that brief period, he gets to be an actor. It wasn't a chore for him, but a pleasure. And everything Anthony Russo told Collider during a Q&A after a special screening of Avengers: Infinity War supports that same image.
Stan Lee clearly loved being a part of the process on these film, and he was very engaged in his myriad cameos. That infectious enthusiasm came through onscreen, as he always looked to be having a great time. It sounds like the legendary Marvel creator he was a joy to work with on set, the kind of person everyone wants to be around who was always willing to give his all and do whatever it took to deliver great moments for the fans.
Needless to say, Stan Lee gave the fandom a lot of those great moments. The iconic comic creator became a constant presence in these massive movies, giving fans something to watch for, where they can all share in his delightful and funny cameos while also being reminded of the deep roots of these marvelous stories. So although he wasn't an actor in the traditional sense, he nevertheless made an everlasting mark in some of the biggest movies ever.
In the wake of Stan Lee's death, the public has been discussing his best cameos, and seen countless tributes and remembrances to the legendary comic creator who cemented his pop culture permanence on the big screen. And although he is now gone, his big screen legacy thankfully still has a few chapters left to tell.
Stan Lee should still have a cameo in next year's Avengers 4, and we'll also get to hear him again as he also makes a cameo in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. That film, which is getting spectacular reviews, swings into theaters on December 14th.
Anthony and Joe Russo's Avengers 4 arrives on May 3, 2019. For all of next year's biggest movies, check out our 2019 Release Schedule.
