Stan Lee gets more than a bit part, for a change, in this great Audi tie-in to The Avengers, as he plays the part of the world's greatest cameo actor. It's a piece of pitch-perfect fan service tailor made for Marvel junkies who delight in wondering which cameo role Lee will play in every Marvel film. After all, as the Audi spot says, "When it comes to small roles, Stan Lee is the biggest."
The video, by San Francisco agency MUH-TAY-ZIK | HOF-FER, is probably so on point because it's directed by a comic book junkie: Kevin Smith, who also has his own cameo role here as "Hockey Fan," an enthusiastic student at Stan Lee's Cameo School.
In other words, Kevin Smith is directing Stan Lee directing Kevin Smith (specifically directing him to be a paperboy).
The ad also features additional amusing cameos by Tara Reid, Michael Rooker, Jason Mewes and Lou Ferrigno. And the Audi S8 has its own cameo at the start and end of the short film. It's even credited.
The Avengers: Age of Ultron will feature the Audi R8, Audi TTS and Audi A3 Cabriolet as the automaker continues to be Tony Stark's car of choice. Even better, Audi is releasing exclusive footage from the movie online, bookended with Audi ads, of course.
Though the spot it great and has racked up 1 million views in two days, it doesn't tell us anything about Stan Lee's next appearance. Which leaves us with the breathless question: Which piece of insignificant dialogue will Stan Lee rattle off this time?
And will he get to wear a jaunty hat?
