After months of speculation, it looks like Frank Grillo is returning to his role as Crossbones in the MCU for 2019’s Avengers 4. As the Avengers assemble once again to save the galaxy, it looks like an old face could be hindering their mission to take down the Mad Titan Thanos.

If you remember, Grillo played exposed Hydra agent Brock Rumlow in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but the notorious enemy of Steve Rogers had his MCU tenure cut short when detonating a bomb during the opening of Captain America: Civil War.

While Grillo himself doesn’t confirm his return for the concluding part of the Russo Brothers’ “Infinity Saga,” other MCU favorite Robert Downey Jr. teased Crossbones’ involvement in the Infinity War sequel. Taking to Instagram, RDJ shared a snap of a benefit production of Our Town, “featuring some of your fav Avengers as well as yours truly!” which just so happens to be at Atlanta’s Fox Theater.

ATL friends! Come one, come all to our benefit production of #OurTown tomorrow night ONLY, featuring some of your fav Avengers as well as yours truly! Link to tix in bio (? creds @jimmy_rich) A post shared by Robert Downey Jr. (@robertdowneyjr) on Nov 5, 2017 at 2:14pm PST

Given that other stars featured in the post include the likes of Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, and Danai Gurira, Grillo might as well have stuck an “I’m back” sign on his head. That being said, it could just be a reunion of old and new friends, but the evidence is mounting for a Crossbones return in Avengers 4.

The rogue Hydra agent met his match thanks to Scarlet Witch’s abilities, but it looks like he could be back for more. While it seemed like a certainty that Rumlow was killed at the start of Civil War, everyone knows that the strange powers of the Infinity Stones have the ability to bring anyone back. Joining the likes of Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Quicksilver, it looks like Thanos might be using those gems to resurrect all sorts of ghosts from the past of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

With filming close to wrapping on the fourth Avengers movie in Atlanta, anyone found in the vicinity is pretty much a given to have some sort of role in the next superhero ensemble. Grillo may have recently played down rumors of a return - and although some fans had long given up hope on a Crossbones’ revival - Downey Jr.’s image is the closest we have yet to a full confirmation that the actor will be back to face Evans’ First Avenger one last time.

Remembering that Grillo signed on for a multi-picture deal, a minor role in the opening of Civil War seemed like a pretty lackluster way to retire such an important villain from the Marvel comics. Thanks to his starring roles in the Purge movies, MCU audiences would be sure to welcome him back with open arms. Remembering that no one is really dead in comics apart from Uncle Ben and the Waynes, we will have to wait and see if Rumlow’s miraculous resurrection is just a case of cross(bones)ed wires or the genuine article!

Next: What’s Next For Marvel Movies After ‘Phase 3’?

Source: Robert Downey Jr.

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