All The Marvel Phase Two Movies Have This 'Star Wars' Easter Egg

By Angie HanApril 22, 2015 11:15 am EST

Marvel loves burying Easter eggs in their movies. Sometimes they turn out to be set-up for future films, but often they're just fun little gags. Falling into the latter category is this genius Star Wars reference, which has managed to make it into every single Phase Two film. Find out what the Marvel Phase Two Star Wars Easter egg is after the jump.

Be warned that spoilers lie ahead for Marvel Phase Two, including minor implied spoilers for Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man.

Feige revealed the Marvel Phase Two Star Wars Easter egg in a chat with CinemaBlend.

Okay, ready? Here's what Feige had to say:

So is this a spoiler for Ant-Man... not really. I'm obsessed with Star Wars. Who's not? I'm 40 years old. I'm in the movie business. I went to USC. So I'm obsessed with Star Wars – and it didn't start out as intentional, but it became intentional, including that beat that you referenced. It sort of happens in every Star Wars movie, but I was sort of looking at it, 'Okay, is Phase Two our Empire Strikes Back?' Not really, but tonally things are a little different. Somebody gets their arm cut off in every Phase Two movie. Every single one.

Feige hinted at this common Easter egg last year. "[T]his sort of happened by coincidence, but now I sort of want it to be a thing," he told Germain. It seems his wishes have been granted.

The reveal might sound like an exaggeration, as most of the major characters in the MCU still have their hands. But it checks out. To recap:

Iron Man 3: Iron Man slices off Aldrich Killian's arm during the climactic fight scene.

Thor: The Dark World: Loki appears to cut off Thor's hand in an illusion.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier: Bucky is revealed to have lost his arm during his fall off the train.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Gamora chops off Groot's arms the first time they meet.

Avengers: Age of Ultron: We know what this one is, but we won't spoil it as the film is just starting to open.

Ant-Man: We don't actually know how this trend plays in yet.

Or you can watch the scenes in video form (minus Age of Ultron and Ant-Man) at CinemaBlend. I'd like to think all the served hands are also referencing Arrested Development and Game of Thrones, especially since the MCU director roster includes veterans from both shows. However, that's just my personal theory. Feige has said nothing of the sort.

We've still got two Phase Two films to go, which means at least two more hands are gonna get chopped off this year. Find out who the next unlucky Luke Skywalker stand-ins are when Avengers: Age of Ultron opens May 1, and Ant-Man drops July 17.