NOTE: The following contains spoilers for The Marvels mid-credits cameo. You’ve been warned!
I remember back when Avengers: Endgame first came out in the summer 2019 how Marvel Studios advocated to fans to refrain from posting spoilers and ruining any surprises in the new MCU movie. It’s a far contrast from today when the studio has taken the middleman out and happily reveals what should have been surprise cameos in the advertising. Case in point, giving away Patrick Stewart reprising his iconic role of Professor Charles Xavier in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Today Andy Park, Director of Visual Development at Marvel Studios, took to social media to post concept art for Hank McCoy a.k.a Beast who makes a cameo in the The Marvels mid-credits scene.
BEAST concept design I did for THE MARVELS! This is one of the versions (that also shows his body/clothing) I did as I gave them a range of options (as we do) all while trying to channel the essence of his comic book origins. I’ve done a lot of designs through my years here at Marvel Studios… this one made the inner fanboy in me squeal just a bit.
Beast made his big screen debut in the much maligned X-Men: The Last Stand as portrayed by Frasier star Kelsey Grammer. Despite the film’s lukewarm reception, the majority of fans could at least agree casting Grammer as the erudite blue mutant was a stroke of genius. Grammer returned to play Beast in X-Men: Days of Future Past, enduring hours of makeup for brief cameo that was only a few seconds long. That’s dedication. In The Marvels, not only does Grammer appear longer on screen but it was portrayed in CG so he could be spared the makeup chair.
As Grammer told The Wrap, he is quite eager to play the character again:
“It is my hope that you will [see him again]. I can say with a certain amount of confidence that you will. I would love to.
“I’ve always wanted to play him again. I see him as an extraordinary character, a real character of gravitas and importance in our culture,” Grammer added. “I’m delighted Beast is back and hope he’s back in a real way.”
