Typically Marvel uses its post/mid-credits scenes to tease an upcoming movie or storyline. It’s a way to prepare audiences for what’s coming the following year, or occasionally beyond. Guardians of the Galaxy was one of the exceptions, as all it showed was Baby Groot dancing and The Collector chilling outside his wrecked museum with Cosmo the Spacedog and Howard the Duck. It was a lighthearted epilogue that was actually put together later than expected. For Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, rather than take the off-the-cuff approach again, the creative team is making sure it’s scripted.
Although director James Gunn has taken a vow of silence when it comes to acknowledging rumors about Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, he did tell a fan on Twitter that the sequel’s post-credits scene has already been written, so we won’t see another scene that was as random as Guardians of the Galaxy’s. That said, since Gunn didn’t provide any other details, it’s still a mystery where the 2017 blockbuster’s post-credits scene will set up another Marvel movie or just be a fun side moment.
James Gunn revealed last year that the original Guardians of the Galaxy post-credits scene was meant to be a nod towards The Avengers, but it ended up being "stolen" by Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Gunn and his editor then looked through the footage they had, and when they found a shot of Benicio del Toro looking over at a box, they came up with the idea of putting Howard the Duck, voiced by Seth Green, on that box and having him make that comment about Cosmo licking The Collector’s face. To anyone not a hardcore comic book fan, Howard’s appearance was a weird inclusion, but at least it helped redeem him decades after his flop of a movie was released. We may even see him again at some point.
Gunn has said in the past that he doesn’t feel beholden to connecting the Guardians of the Galaxy with the Earth happenings in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since they’re rooted in the cosmic side of things. Still, with Avengers: Infinity War Part I coming only a year after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’s release, Marvel may want some tease towards Thanos’ eventual conquest, even if the Mad Titan doesn't actually appear. After all, if the Infinity War is as big as it’s being hyped, then the Guardians may head over to "Terra" to assist Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in the gigantic battle. It would be nice if the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 viewers were clued in on their involvement with the rest of the MCU.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hits theaters on May 5, 2017.
