We’re still recovering from all the Avengers: Infinity War shockers, but one character in particular caught us off-guard. The actor in question even had to keep his role secret from the cast, including his own Walking Dead co-star.

You’re warned of FULL SPOILERS for Avengers: Infinity War from here on out, but if you hadn’t heard – that was not Hugo Weaving reprising his role as Captain America villain Red Skull. The character resurfaced on planet Vormir as guardian of the Soul Stone, but was portrayed by Walking Dead star and noted impressionist Ross Marquand in his best Hugo Weaving voice. It’s a pretty thankless job to recreate another actor’s work, but Marquand didn’t even have the luxury of telling Walking Dead co-star and Black Panther fave Danai Gurira they were in the same movie. Per Entertainment Weekly:

I didn’t tell anybody. These NDAs on these things are no joke! I literally did not tell anybody until it was out. I told my friend who I brought to the premiere because she had to know how I got tickets, and I said, ‘I can’t tell you who I’m playing, but I can tell you I am a part of this. But you can’t tell anyone.’ […]

And it is tough to keep those secrets. Like with The Walking Dead, I think I was silent for seven months before I told anyone about that. With this, it was about six months. And it’s tough because you’re so excited to tell everyone about these amazing worlds that you’re about to become a part of, but you can’t tell anybody … No [I didn’t tell Danai]. Because I’m scared to God! These NDAs put the fear of God in you.

Granted, the two never actually shared Infinity War or Walking Dead sets after he’d been cast. Marquand explained that Marvel approved his audition only after The Walking Dead Season 8 finished filming, and his Red Skull work was “just a day of shooting.” Marquand and Gurira have since reunited both for the Infinity War press circuit and the recent start of Walking Dead Season 9 production.

Ah, the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the world of TV. They’re so connected! Except when they’re not.

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