While we’re still awaiting official confirmation on both the time travel and the five-year time-jump rumors, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that Avengers 4 isn’t going to stay linear in its storytelling, and actor Frank Grillo has now claimed that one particular blast from the past will include himself as the late Brock Rumlow, aka Crossbones.
On an episode of UFC Unfiltered with Jim Norton and Matt Serra, the star let it slip that he’ll be making an appearance in the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War sequel, albeit only in “flashback.” Though most cast members in next year’s release would think twice about dropping such spoilers, Grillo claimed that he’s allowed to say it since he won’t be in any other MCU movies.
Obviously, there’s plenty of debate to be had over what this might mean. For one thing, it could be argued that this revelation fits in with the time travel rumors. When Crossbones made his final appearance to date in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, the villain’s clash with the Avengers ultimately led to the signing of the Sokovia Accords, suggesting that it could be here where Earth’s Mightiest Heroes attempt to alter history. At the same time, instead of a literal journey into the past, Grillo’s scene could come from the use of Tony Stark’s B.A.R.F. technology, or it could just be a plain old flashback of the traditional variety.
As you surely know, Grillo has been finding a few ways of catching the attention of Marvel fans this week. Most notably, the actor reported rumors to Larry King that the next Captain America “could be African American. Could be a woman.” That remains to be seen, but the fact that the performer is apparently still an MCU insider for this next movie perhaps lends credence to the claim.
In any case, we’ll find out what the future holds for Cap, and what the past holds for Crossbones, when Avengers 4 comes out on May 3rd, 2019.