by There are still many cliffhangers from recent and older projects that need to be handled as the MCU moves deeper into Phase 5 (and eventually into Phase 6).
The super-powered series from Marvel Studios has established its reputation on connective storytelling, weaving narrative webs between films and laying the groundwork years in advance for payoffs that won’t occur for a while.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, James Gunn‘s final Marvel film, is the most recent MCU cliffhanger illustration of this. The intergalactic journey brought to a close a tale that had been in the works for ten years, but it also helped to lay the groundwork for a brand-new chapter in the history of this space-faring series.
In light of the fact that the Marvel Studios machine isn’t showing any signs of slowing down, here are all of the MCU cliffhangers that haven’t yet been resolved.
cliffhangers from recent and older projects
1.) Karl Mordo’s Post-Credits Scene from Doctor Strange
The Karl Mordo post-credits sequence from 2016’s Doctor Strange is one of the oldest hanging threads (Cliffhanger) on this list. When Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Mordo broke bad at the end of Scott Derrickson’s journey across the Marvel Mystic universe, he appeared to be setting himself up to be the antagonist of the inescapable sequel.
That, however, was untrue; Ejifor’s nefarious sorcerer only made an appearance in Multiverse of Madness (MoM) as a different version of himself, with Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch filling the role of the villain in that movie. as MoM’s revelation, it has come to light that Wanda was supposed to kill off Earth-616 Mordo in a deleted scene; however, as the scene did not appear in the finished product, it is likely that 616 Mordo is still alive.
2.) The Scorpion Post-Credits Scene from Spider-Man: Homecoming
In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Michael Mando’s Scorpion, a villain who has not yet been seen or heard from again, was teased after viewers saw Tom Holland’s Spider-Man defeat Michael Keaton’s Vulture. In the post-credits stinger for Homecoming, Mando’s portrayal of the infamous Spidey villain appears for just under a minute, informing Keaton’s Adrian Toomes that he “heard a rumor” that Toomes knows the identity of Holland’s wall-crawler.
Mando’s Marvel character has not been addressed despite two solo Spider-Man films, but given that Holland’s next Spider-Man 4 has been billed as a “street-level story,“ it seems inevitable that Mando’s Scorpion would reappear for the first time since 2017.
3.) The Vanishing of WandaVision’s White Vision
Fans have seen what happens to Elizabeth Olsen’s titular Marvel hero since WandaVision, but Paul Bettany’s Vision has not garnered the same interest. During the course of the series, the super-powered android took on a new appearance, going entirely white and earning the nickname White Vision.
White Vision is still alive and well, having disappeared at the conclusion of Marvel’s first Disney+ series. With Vision Quest on the horizon, it won’t be long before Bettany’s MCU character returns to action.
4.) Sharon Carter’s identification as the Power Broker by Falcon and Winter Soldier
The revelation that Emily VanCamp’s Sharon Carter was the enigmatic Power Broker was one of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier‘s biggest surprises. In one of the post-credits sequences from the show, Carter was shown taking a call from an ominous number and ordering the caller to “line up [their] buyers” because “we’re about to have full access to government secrets, prototype weapons, you name it.” This added to the suspense.
The most likely spot for this thread to be continued would be in Captain America 4 in 2024, as the star-studded blockbuster is slated to once more put Anthony Mackie‘s newly renamed Captain America on the shoulders of international espionage.
5.) The Xialing Post-Credits Reveal from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
After the credits of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings rolled, the MCU might go in a number of different directions, but one of the most intriguing would have to do with the revelation that Meng’er Zhang’s Xialing had taken control of the Ten Rings after her father’s defeat.
It would make sense for Xialing and her band of warriors to make their next appearance in the purported Ten Rings Disney+ series, which is reportedly in the works. However, given the recent cutting of the MCU slate, it’s likely that fans won’t hear from the Ten Rings until a full-fledged Shang-Chi sequel.
6.) Arishem’s Eternal Judgement
The enormous Arishem warned he will “return for judgment” after a Celestial was sacrificed to save the inhabitants of Earth at the conclusion of Eternals, therefore it is certain that he will return at some point.
This final warning is probably the first hint fans have seen of the beloved Marvel Comics antagonist Galactus joining the conflict on screen, something that could play a significant role in Eternals 2 if and when it is formally confirmed.
7.) Eros & Pip the Troll’s Post-Credits Scene from “Eternals”
Harry Styles made his MCU debut as Eros (also known as Starfox), the brother of Thanos, creating yet another Eternals cliffhanger that fans can’t wait to see more of. Styles’ Eros, who arrived in the Domo’s cabin with the group of Eternals to the Cosmos, was immediately endearing. He was accompanied by his comically realistic troll companion Pip (played by Patton Oswalt).
For Eternals 2, Eros and Pip seem like a foregone conclusion. The character’s introduction wasn’t “just a stunt,” according to Marvel Studios executive Nate Moore, so a follow-up to this tease must be planned despite Harry Styles’ recent announcement that he would be taking a hiatus from acting.
8.) Peter Parker’s Amnesia in Spider-Man: No Way Home
Fans of Spider-Man: No Way Home observed not just an altered Peter Parker, but also a changed environment in which he lived. Thanks to some No Way Home wizardry from Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange, the whole universe has now forgotten Peter Parker after Tom Holland’s young wall-crawler had his secret identity revealed in Far From Home’s finale.
This implies that there will be numerous inquiries in the future. What will Peter do with the new beginning that comes from his recent discovery of anonymity? Will he also make an effort to rebuild his friendship (and romantic relationship) with his pals MJ and Ned? It is an intriguing place to start for a new series of Spider-Man films, and it will probably be addressed in Spider-Man 4 first.
9.) The Eddie Brock Symbiote Post-Credits Scene from Spider-Man: No Way Home
In the post-credits scene from No Way Home, there was yet another possible setup for the upcoming Spider-Man movies. At the conclusion of Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock (and, in turn, the alien Symbiote Venom) were suddenly relocated to Earth-616. However, the pair’s stay was brief, as they were sent back to the Sony-verse in the same way that the other Multiversal villains were in the climax of No Way Home.
The Symbiote’s black gunk, which Eddie and Venom left behind, may be a clue that Earth-616 will have its own Venom or that Tom Holland’s Spider-Man 4 may feature the enduring Black Suit Spider-Man plot.
10.) Jake Lockley’s post-credits scene in Moon Knight
Although it is currently unknown where in the MCU Moon Knight will appear next, given the cliffhanger that Moon Knight Season 1 finished on, he will undoubtedly return in a significant fashion. After spending the most of the series getting to know Steven Grant and Marc Spector, two of the renowned Marvel hero’s split personalities, a third character—Jake Lockley—made himself known to wrap things up.
Lockely was depicted as killing Arthur Harrow in the post-credits scene of Season 1 and will very certainly appear in Season 2 of Moon Knight. Considering that Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, has stated that “there’s a future for that character,” fans of Oscar Isaac’s gritty superhero might not have to wait too long.
11.) Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Post-Credits Scene for Clea
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness included Charlize Theron as Clea, a recurring character from the Doctor Strange comics, as another Phase 5 character introduced at the last minute.
Theron’s mysterious new hero approaches Benedict Cumberbatch’s titular doctor before ripping a hole in time and space, telling him, “You caused an incursion, and we’re going fix it,” possibly setting up the plot of Doctor Strange 3 as the two travel between realities to stop universes from tearing themselves apart.
12.) Hercules’ Post-Credits Scene in Thor: Love and Thunder
After Thor: Love and Thunder ended, it seemed as though a whole new realm of MCU gods had emerged. Zeus (Russell Crowe) assigned his son Hercules to defeat Thor in order to restore the dread of gods in the universe after his meeting with Chris Hemsworth’s God of Thunder ended in humiliation.
Hercules has frequently appeared in Thor and Avengers comics as a guest character, so it feels right for him to make his MCU debut as one of the key antagonists of the upcoming Thor movie with Brett Goldstein, who played the character in Ted Lasso.
13.) Jane Foster from Thor: Love and Thunder in Valhalla (Thor Will Return)
Thor: Love and Thunder used the Marvel Studios end-credits standard in a distinctive way that could play into future films, despite not being the first film to feature a “Thor Will Return” tag at the conclusion of its running time. Audiences were treated to a post-credits stinger live from Valhalla just before that words showed on the screen. In it, Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster/Mighty Thor was having fun in the afterlife, perhaps hinting at a potential future for her version of the character should she be somehow revived.
A Thor 5 seems probable, but considering that Chris Hemsworth would be wrapping up the series, could this “Thor Will Return” allude to Natalie Portman’s portrayal of the hero? And perhaps the fifth installment of the series will capitalise on this by making it the goal to bring her back from the dead.
14.) She-Hulk’s Skaar Reveal
Since 2008’s The Incredible Hulk, the MCU version of the Hulk hasn’t had a standalone film. But that might soon change, especially when She-Hulk: Attorney at Law‘s Season 1 finale revealed his son Skaar, who is crucial to the comics.
Skaar might play a significant role in the World War Hulk movie, which is rumoured to star Mark Ruffalo’s unfriendly green behemoth. The movie might explore Skaar’s parentage and what Bruce Banner has been up to since Avengers: Endgame.
15.) She-Hulk’s Admission That Wong Freed Blonsky From Prison
Following Avengers: Endgame, the characters of Benedict Wong’s Wong and Tim Roth’s Emil Blonsky/Abomination have developed a type of Marvel bromance. The two made an appearance in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and they also appeared in She-Hulk’s cliffhanger at the end when Wong unexpectedly let Emil out of jail.
Since Blonsky is rumoured to appear in that movie, one common hypothesis holds that the Sorcerer Supreme will have a role in the next super-powered team-up Thunderbolts. However, it is still unknown when this unresolved plot point will be handled.
16.) T’Challa’s Son Is Revealed in Wakanda Forever’s Post-Credits
Nothing better represented Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s focus on remembering the legacy of the late great hero of the franchise, Chadwick Boseman, than the post-credits reveal of his son T’Challa (named after his father).
In the Black Panther sequel, Letitia Wright’s Shuri just assisted in saving her country from a crisis, but the identification of an unidentified heir to the throne will undoubtedly cause a stir not just within the African country but also throughout the rest of the world. The most likely place for this cliffhanger to be resolved is in a Black Panther 3 because director Ryan Coogler hinted that he will return to the project “as long as folks will have [him]”.
17.) Post-Credits for the New Guardians Team from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.
The “end of the chapter” for the Guardians team that fans have grown to know and love over the past ten years was frequently mentioned in the lead-up to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, but many viewers did not anticipate that this next generation team would be introduced right there and then within the movie.
The future of the Guardians series is still uncertain because James Gunn has left Marvel and joined Peter Safran as co-CEO of DC Studios. A fourth movie, a stand-alone film centred on a hero like Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock, or even a crossover with another team of interplanetary heroes (i.e. the Eternals) may be in the works, according to a tease like the one seen in the Vol. 3 post-credits scenes with the new team.
18.) Star-Lord’s Post-Credits and Finale from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
No member of the Guardians squad has yet received a solo movie like many other MCU characters, but Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill/Star-Lord may alter that.
Pratt’s bumbling badass returned to Earth to see his grandfather in the last Vol. 3 post-credits stinger, which concluded with the words “Star-Lord Will Return” splashed on the screen. As the franchise prepares for its upcoming major team-up event in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, this may indicate that Star-Lord will star in a standalone movie or that he will join the Avengers as a main character.
FAQ
- How many phases are there going to be in the MCU?
Feige has previously stated that a “saga” in the MCU consists of three “phases.” Thus, the MCU is currently in its Multiverse Saga, whereas the first three phases of the MCU make up the Infinity Saga. “We work in about three phases at a time,” Feige said on stage.
- Where is the Marvel Universe going?
As Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will wrap out Phase 4, which has had its ups and downs, we now know where the MCU is headed. Phase 5 will then begin in full force on Disney+ and in theatres. Phase 5 includes previously announced films like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. as some of its highlights.
- What is MCU building up to?
Six films – Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, The Marvels, Captain America: New World Order, Thunderbolts, and Blade — and seven television series on Disney + are scheduled to make up Phase 5 of the MCU.
