*The spoiler ban for Avengers: Endgame has officially been lifted under Russo Brother Law, but still...spoilers ahead* 

There's a whole lot going on in Avengers: Endgame, to the point where the Russo Brothers and writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely can't even really seem to agree what was going on. But that's okay! Because the bottom line is that amid all the time-hopping and plot-layering Marvel's massive, $2 billion+ movie changed the future of the MCU in countless ways. And not even the ending — the more people get a chance to explore Endgame, the more it looks like the film was layering in subtle nods to obscure corners of the MCU the whole time.

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First there was Namor the Submariner, Marvel's aquatic antihero who might just be causing underwater earthquakes off the coast of Africa. Today [h/t Screenrant], some sharp-eyed viewers noticed a possible nod to Captain Britan, a.k.a. Brian Braddock, the comic book publisher's superpowered hero from across the pond.

Here's the details: The nod comes during Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Steve Rogers' (Chris Evans) trip back in time to 1970s Camp Lehigh to acquire some back-up Pym Particles and the Tesseract at the same time. Steve spots his old love Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) through a window, and anyone who was busy wiping their eyes might've missed her referencing a "Braddock" who hasn't check in for a while.

In the comics, Brian Braddock becomes Captain Britain after a motorcycle crash leaves him dying on the side of the road. Merlin—like, the wizard—and his daughter, Roma, approach the dying Braddock and offer him a choice: He can live if he becomes Britain's champion via the mystical Amulet of Right. Braddock chooses the title, the Amulet, and a pretty badass costume with the Union Jack on it. (Not to be confused with the actual Marvel superhero, Union Jack.)

The thing about the quick reference is that it could also be referring to Brian's father, James Braddock, a former member of the Captain Britain Corps. himself as well as the inventor of the super-computer-turned-supervillain Mastermind.

What do you think? Is this a throwaway line or a hint of something in the MCU's future? Let us know down in the comments, and check out the links below for more on Avengers: Endgame.

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Image via Marvel Studios
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Image via Marvel Studios
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Image via Marvel Studios