Marvel Cinematic Universe: Definitive Guide To Easter Eggs, In-Jokes And Foreshadowing

The Avengers

15. Phase 2 Mentioned

While working with new best bud Bruce Banner on the Tesseract, Tony Stark spots classified plans for the next step, dubbed "Phase 2". While in-universe it's weaponising the cube's power, in the real world this is a sly wink towards the emergent Phase structure of the MCU, reminding fans that while The Avengers had been the culmination of everything so far, it was really just the beginning. Interestingly, dialogue from the ensuing scene actually manages to hint towards the plots of the three stand-alone Avengers movies from that second phase...

14. S.H.I.E.L.D. Monitoring Heroes Leads Into Captain America: The Winter Soldier

There's been references to S.H.I.E.L.D. keeping tabs on various heroes in the previous movies, but that element comes to the fore during the gang's argument, with all the heroes confirmed to be on "Threat Watch" Not only is this mistrust of heroes laying some premature groundwork for Civil War, it's also directly prophesying Captain America: The Winter Soldier, where the intrusive extents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s monitoring of "threats" is revealed.

13. Nick Fury Hints At Thor: The Dark World

In response to Thor judging all the in-fighting, Nick Fury jabs "did we come to you planet and blow stuff up?", a sly wink towards the Dark Elves invasion in Thor: The Dark World. It's a less obvious nod, but in the face of the other references it's likely intended. It also reaffirms the significance of the events of Thor; it was the Asgardians coming to Earth that kicked the whole Tesseract project into gear.

12. Stark Without Armour Is The Conceit Of Iron Man 3

Probably the best bit of subtle hinting, Rogers asking Stark "Big man in a suit of armour. Take that off, what are you?" is pretty much a synopsis for the main aims of Iron Man 3, where Tony actually faces who he personally is, motivated by the events of this film.