Watch: The Post-Credits Surprise From ‘Captain America’ Leaks Early

What started as a gag by director Jon Favreau on the first “Iron Man” film has become a signature part of all Marvel Studios films: the post-credits scene. During the filming of “Iron Man,” Favreau threw in a few Easter eggs to the larger Marvel universe including a short scene after the end credits rolled featuring Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, who shows up to tell Robert Downey Jr.‘s Tony Stark that he’s putting a team together. This was an exciting tease to fanboys which should have led right into “The Avengers,” Marvel’s long-planned superhero team-up. Unfortunately this made “Iron Man 2” almost completely redundant, but that film’s post-credits stinger introduced an Asgardian hammer touching down in New Mexico which set the stage for “Thor.” The post-credits bit on that film showed the villain Loki going after the cosmic cube, again setting the stage for “The Avengers.” With one more hero to introduce, next week’s “Captain America: The First Avenger,” many wondered just what we’ll be getting as a treat before we leave the theater and now we know. (And obviously, if you don’t want to know any more, stop reading here.)

As was reported on many sites around the net this afternoon, a trailer for “The Avengers” will appear after the credits roll on ‘Captain America,’ and as it goes with everything these days, it has leaked early. With ‘Captain America’ hitting theaters this Friday, right in the midst of Comic-Con in San Diego, it looks like Marvel Studios has found a way to make a stir without setting foot in Hall H this year. Bleeding Cool stumbled across the video which is sure to be taken down at any moment, so watch it while you can.

“Captain America: The First Avenger” is in theaters this Friday and Joss Whedon‘s “The Avengers” will hit May 4, 2012.