Karen Gillan has teased Nebula’s role in Avengers: Infinity War, revealing she had no idea how important the daughter of Thanos would be. Gillan’s played the cybernetic Nebula in both Guardians of the Galaxy movies and is set to return in Infinity War and next year’s Avengers 4. And although she’s not been prominent in the marketing thus far - she only appeared in one shot of the Super Bowl TV spot - don’t be fooled into thinking she’s only a bit-part.

In the Infinity Gauntlet comic on which Infinity War is - in part - based, Nebula is essential; she’s been held hostage by Mad Titan Thanos, but eventually breaks free to claim the all-powerful glove - and the six Infinity Gems - for herself. The most recent trailer for Avengers: Infinity War has suggested that some of this role may be going to her adopted sister, Gamora, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a part to play.

Screen Rant recently caught up with Gillian for the home video release of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, where talk shifted to her other big franchise. When asked if she knew when signing on for Guardians of the Galaxy that she’d be so integral to the future Marvel story, the actress revealed it was all a big surprise:

By the time Guardians of the Galaxy released, fans were already prepping for Infinity War: Thanos had been teased a couple of years earlier in The Avengers and half of the Infinity Stones had been revealed. However, it clearly wasn’t on the minds of the actors, with Gillan only gradually learning how important her character was to the MCU culmination. She may be key beyond Avengers 4, too; it’s unclear what timeline she’s referring to when she says “three movies later and there’s three more to come out” given that she’s only been in two so far and has been filming on two more, but this may be a suggestion that she’ll be back for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in 2020.

“I had no idea that this was where the character was going. I genuinely signed onto the role thinking it was eight days of filming and then I was going to die in the first Guardians. Three movies later and there’s three more to come out it’s, like, crazy. It’s funny because I read the Infinity Gauntlet, which is what the new Avengers films are based on, as research for my character because it’s her sort of biggest moment within the Marvel comic book world, and then to find out they’re making a double-bill feature based on that, I was just so excited actually because Nebula gets some really cool stuff.”

What’s most interesting here, though, is the slight tease of “really cool stuff” in Infinity War. Little is known about Nebula’s role, possibly because of its spoiler-y nature, but this does suggest she will get at least one moment of spectacle. The lone shot of her revealed so far has her on what appears to be the ruined planet Titan, suggesting a showdown with Thanos or re-team with the Guardians.

The promotional machine for Avengers: Infinity War has been really hotting up, with a new trailer and set visit reports providing a clearer idea of just how epic the team-up will be. With the release date now a week earlier on April 27, fans won’t have long to wait.

Next: Infinity War Theory: Trailers Show How [SPOILER] Dies

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is available on digital download now and Blu-ray and DVD from March 20.

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