Avengers: Infinity War has an Arrested Development reference

*WARNING: SPOILERS FOR AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR*

Marvel may have just launched its most epic cinematic outing yet – something they’ve repeatedly labelled as the “most ambitious crossover in history” – but its directors haven’t forgotten their roots quite yet.

Anthony and Joe Russo may now be at the helm of the year’s most highly-anticipated film, but back in the early 2000s, the duo directed several episodes of Arrested Development, including the show’s pilot.

The pair already paid tribute to their past work in Captain America: Civil War, sneaking in the show’s infamous stair car, just as Captain America is seen running onto the airport runway to face off against Iron Man in the film’s centrepiece action sequence.

It now appears that the Russo brothers have done it again: Infinity War has yet another Arrested Development reference, and it’s even funnier than the first one.

“All we can say is that [viewers] will be rewarded with careful attention,” Anthony Russo told HelloGiggles. “I think die-hard Arrested Development fans will see it on the first viewing.” Indeed, it hasn’t taken fans long to spot it. One more warning: SPOILERS AHEAD.


If you didn’t spot it, the reference is cleverly hidden in a scene which takes place at the abode of Benicio del Toro’s Collector, who we’re familiar with from Thor: The Dark World and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Of course, the Collector’s name is also a major giveaway as to his primary hobby, and a few Easter Eggs have already snuck their way into his gallery of prizes and oddities.

One of those rare items in Infinity War is an entirely blue gentleman with a moustache and glasses: clearly a reference to Tobias Fünke during his attempts to join the Blue Man Group. Yes, the infamous: “I’m afraid I just blue myself”.

This, however, clearly won't be the first and last of Avengers: Infinity War‘s Easter Eggs, so keep those eyes peeled.

Avengers: Infinity War is out now.

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