One of the Marvel's most beloved aspects has become the MCU post-credit bonus hinting at what lies ahead.
However, Marvel post-Infinity Saga—and particularly following the Jonathan Majors’ Kangtastrophy—faces a whirlwind of change, yet The Multiverse Saga carries on confidently towards an epic team-up. Phases Four and Five toss a myriad of solo storylines into the mix, missing the interconnective tissue of the Infinity Saga's post-credit breadcrumbs.
Despite this, a coherent trail emerges, one that laces most of these scattered MCU post-credit glimpses into a coherent grand march toward Secret Wars.
Doctor Strange – Mordo's Vendetta
Mordo's mission to annihilate sorcerers stands as one of the few Infinity Saga post-credit threads awaiting resolution in Phases Four and Five. Recall Karl Mordo's disenchantment with magic after discovering the Ancient One's dark magic dalliances – Determined to purge the world of sorcerers, Mordo strikes Benjamin Bratt's Pangborn first, a former student of Kamar Taj who harnessed sorcery to mend his paralysis.
This chilling scene reveals Mordo stripping Pangborn of his magical healing, condemning him to paralysis once more as he chillingly diagnoses the world's ailment: “Too many sorcerers.” There was an initial blueprint to conclude this arc in Multiverse of Madness. A deleted sequence would have shown Mordo confronting Scarlet Witch, aiming to extinguish her for wielding the Darkhold. Yet, in a gruesome twist, she decapitates Mordo, a trophy she allegedly flaunts before Strange later.
Alas, this segment never graced the silver screen, but Sam Raimi's vision included immediately branding Scarlet Witch as a formidable menace and wrapping up Mordo's story introduced in 2016. With this narrative strand cut and Earth-616 Mordo's notable absence from the film, speculation suggests his return in the proposed third Doctor Strange chapter, potentially nestled in Phase Six's Multiverse Saga. Here, Strange's multiverse and incursion savvy may play a pivotal role in shaping Secret Wars.
Spider-Man: Homecoming – Toomes Stays Quiet
Spider-Man: Homecoming‘s post-credit scene presents Vulture, real name Adrian Toomes, cornered in prison by one Mac Gargan. This convict, having previously clashed with Spider-Man, probes Toomes for Spidey's identity, hinting at nefarious plans brewing with accomplices on the outside.
Despite Toomes' insider knowledge, he opts for silence regarding Spider-Man's true identity. This tantalizing tease suggests Gargan's potential emergence as a future antagonist, yet the web of Spidey's foes remains untangled. With Gargan's vendetta simmering, his return as a threat looms over the friendly neighborhood spider.
Falcon and the Winter Soldier – Sharon Carter's Dark Turn
Falcon and the Winter Soldier unfurls two MCU post-credit scenes, both dangling narrative threads. The series' bombshell reveal — Sharon Carter is the Power Broker, a criminal mastermind pulling the strings from the shadows.
This twist sent shockwaves through the audience, painting Sharon Carter as a formidable underworld figure. This opens a Pandora's box of intrigue: How long has Carter played the double agent, and how will her syndicate clash with the established criminal factions of the MCU? With the Kingpin, the Ten Rings, and now the Power Broker, the underworld's chessboard grows increasingly crowded and complex.
Anticipation swells for the fallout in Captain America 4. Carter's betrayal looms large, likely to distress the new Captain America, Sam Wilson, and his ally Bucky Barnes. When duty calls, they might find themselves in the heart-wrenching position of confronting their once-trusted ally, Carter, in a battle of allegiances.
Falcon and the Winter Soldier – U.S. Agent John Walker
Falcon and the Winter Soldier also tees up a post-credit scene that's prime to explode in the Thunderbolts film, the MCU's nod to a band of antiheroes akin to the Suicide Squad. John Walker, briefly donning the Captain America shield before snapping and attacking an unarmed adversary, gets a redemption arc courtesy of Julia Louis-Dreyfus's Val. She outfits him with a sleek suit and a new moniker: U.S. Agent at Your Service.
Kevin Feige unveils U.S. Agent as a linchpin in the Thunderbolts lineup. Though details of the Thunderbolts narrative remain under wraps, we know Walker joins forces with Bucky Barnes, Yelena Belova, and other complex characters. The potential for laughs and tension runs high as Walker tries fitting into a squad where he's not quite the poster boy for heroism. Fans can catch the action and banter when Thunderbolts hits theaters on May 2, 2025.
Shang-Chi — Ten Rings Beacon
Shang-Chi‘s post-credit scene gathers a skeleton Avengers crew: Bruce Banner in the flesh, Carol Danvers, Wong, Shang-Chi, and Katy, all puzzling over the Ten Rings' true purpose. These mysterious bands broadcast a beacon, initially speculated to hail Kang the Conqueror, but perhaps now signaling an even greater menace like Galactus or Annihilus.
The scene not only teases an imminent threat but also recruits Shang-Chi into the Avengers' ranks, with Wong and Banner ushering them into “the circus.” With the Multiverse Saga unfolding, the Ten Rings' beacon could foretell untold dangers. Meanwhile, Wong's karaoke escapade offers a light-hearted coda to the high-stakes drama.
Eternals – Harry Styles Starfox/Brother of Thanos
Despite mixed reviews, Eternals drops two pivotal post-credit bombs, the first introducing Harry Styles as Eros, aka Starfox, Thanos' brother and Titan's royal scion. A tipsy CGI troll announces his arrival as he offers to aid the Eternals in their quest.
Styles' MCU debut as the charming and powerful Eros sets the stage for cosmic adventures, contrasting his villainous sibling, Thanos. As the MCU gears up for Secret Wars, a potential Titan showdown looms, promising fans a clash of epic proportions.
Eternals – Dane Whitman Meets Blade
Eternals‘ second post-credit scene features Kit Harington's Dane Whitman eyeing the Ebony Blade, a cursed weapon with a dark allure. The scene's real kicker is Mahershala Ali's Blade posing a tantalizing question to Whitman, setting fan anticipation alight.
This interaction hints at a future where Blade mentors Whitman, steering him clear of the blade's corruptive touch. The pair's potential alliance against dark forces could be a highlight of the MCU, possibly uniting against multiversal threats. Expectations for Blade's solo movie soar, with Whitman's introduction as one of Eternals‘ standout contributions to the MCU.
Spider-Man: No Way Home – Venom Symbiote in the MCU
Sony's Venomsequel teases a Venom-Spider-Man crossover with Eddie Brock's accidental MCU detour. Although Venom's role in No Way Home is limited, a post-credit scene sets the stage for future symbiote shenanigans.
As Eddie contemplates a meet-up with Spider-Man, he's abruptly pulled back to his own universe. But he leaves behind a sliver of the Venom symbiote, a detail ripe with potential. This could tee up Spider-Man's encounter with the iconic black suit, ideally minus any cringeworthy dance routines. The stage is set for a possible showdown between Tom Holland's Spider-Man and Tom Hardy's Venom, inching ever closer to a collision fans have eagerly anticipated for years.
Moon Knight – Meet Jake Lockley
Moon Knight shines as one of the MCU's most compelling series on Disney+, despite its apparent detachment from the larger Marvel universe. The post-credit scene doesn't bridge gaps with the MCU, but it unifies Moon Knight's own fragmented identity. It unveils Jake Lockley, another persona serving Khonshu, who coldly dispatches Arthur Harrow with a bullet to the face.
Moon Knight's trajectory within the MCU teems with mystery. Yet, his potential as an ally in the looming multiversal chaos stands undeniable. With an Egyptian god in his corner, Moon Knight's entry into a team-up seems inevitable, especially when Secret Wars beckons heroes to shield their universe from annihilation.
Multiverse of Madness – Clea and Incursions
Multiverse of Madness‘ post-credit scene showcases Doctor Strange, third eye and all, facing Charlize Theron's Clea, who emerges from a reality rupture. She warns of an incursion Strange has sparked and enlists his help to xmend it. Incursions, as the now spaghettified Richards explains, spell doom for colliding universes destroying one or both in the process.
Strange, seemingly unfazed by his new appendage, joins Clea without hesitation, plunging into the rift that may lead to Dormammu's Dark Dimension. This encounter sets the stage for the Doctor Strange Trilogy's potential third act, with many expecting its unveiling in Phase 6, preceding Avengers: Secret Wars. The theme of incursions weaves through Phases 4 and 5, hinting at a multiverse teetering on the brink. Doctor Strange, versed in multiversal lore, seems destined to spearhead the Avengers into Secret Wars, with his next solo venture possibly igniting the fuse.
Thor: Love and Thunder – Hercules' Vow of Vengeance
Love and Thunder, despite mixed feelings, serves up a post-credit promise of divine retribution. Hercules, son of Zeus, prepares to avenge his father's humiliation by Thor's hand. This celestial rivalry, pulled from the pages of Marvel comics, hints at future thunderous clashes between the two gods.
Whether Thor's fifth installment gets the green light or not, and its place in relation to Secret Wars remains speculative. Nonetheless, should it materialize, Thor must reckon with Zeus for his actions in Love and Thunder, and deal with Hercules' looming threat. If this unfolds pre-Secret Wars, the plot could intertwine with the multiverse's infinite expanses, with Zeus potentially wielding this knowledge against the god of thunder.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law – Wong's Abomination Jail Break
The She-Hulk finale's post-credit snippet features the ever-present Wong, who liberates Emil Blonsky, the Abomination, from his cell, delivering him to Kamar Taj. This moment stitches together with Wong and Abomination's earlier Shang-Chi cage fight cameo, hinting at deeper connections.
Wong, Sorcerer Supreme, shoulders the responsibility of monitoring multiversal threats. Recruiting Blonsky could be a strategic move in assembling a team against impending cosmic dangers. While this action reeks of speculation, it aligns with Wong's proactive nature and Blonsky's brute force, potentially shaping a formidable front against threats like Kang, Annihilus, or Galactus.
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania – The Council of Kangs Uncertain Future
The Council of Kangs' *Quantumania post-credit scene electrifies Marvel fans, foreshadowing a convergence of Kangs. However, with recent turmoil within Disney, the scene's intended trajectory toward Avengers 5—initially dubbed Avengers: Kang Dynasty—hangsin the balance.
The spectacle of Kang variants, including Immortus and Rama Tut, in an arena brimming with the epitome of narcissism and self-adulation cracks open the door to the Kang Dynasty's entry into the MCU. Despite Kang the Conqueror's fall in Quantumania, his variants, a legion intent on multiverse and time control, await their moment.
This scene's original direction may shift drastically, challenging Marvel to weave this complex tapestry without creating new plot holes. Navigating this scenario without Jonathan Majors' character could prove challenging, but with inventive plotting and sharp execution, Marvel can satisfy fans while steering them toward the next multiversal menace. The future of the Council of Kangs teeters on the edge of a knife, with only fan theories to fill the void until Marvel unveils the next chapter.
Monica Rambeau's X-Men Encounter
The Marvels may have stumbled with its narrative, but its post-credit scene promises redemption. After averting an incursion, Monica Rambeau finds herself whisked away to an alternate universe. She awakens with Kelsey Grammer's Beast hovering over her, monitoring her vitals, and speculating on her interdimensional journey.
Beast's casual mention of “Charles” sends X-Men enthusiasts into a frenzy. Monica now resides in a reality where the X-Men thrive and Charles Xavier, despite his grisly fate in Multiverse of Madness, lives. The scene delivers a gut punch when Monica spots her mother, Maria Rambeau, aka Binary in this universe, who doesn't recognize her. This poignant moment plants seeds for the X-Men's integration into the MCU. Grammer's return as the blue-furred intellectual with a temper rekindles memories of his appearance back in X-Men: The Last Stand, setting the stage for an epic ensemble reunion.
The Marvel's scene hints at an early X-Men introduction, possibly through Deadpool's fourth-wall-breaking, multiverse-melding antics. Fans salivate over potential showdowns, like Fassbender's Magneto facing McKellen's. The multiversal doors are flung wide open, anticipation building for what might emerge next.
Wilson Fisk's Political Aspirations
Echo‘s post-credit scene casts Wilson Fisk in contemplation, his gaze locked on a news report about New York's mayoral race. His eyes flicker with realization and ambition, envisioning a rise to political prominence. Fisk's potential ascent from underworld kingpin to political powerhouse sets an intriguing stage for Daredevil: Born Again.
Fisk's bid for mayor could ignite turf wars with criminal factions like The Ten Rings and Sharon Carter's Power Broker-led empire. The prospect of Fisk leveraging both muscle and political currency to dominate New York's criminal landscape fascinates. After two MCU appearances that left fans wanting, Fisk must now evolve into a more formidable force, weaving strategy and brutality into his quest for supremacy.
Fisk's path might cross with Sam Wilson's Captain America, but it's his dance with Charlie Cox's Daredevil that truly excites. Their dynamic, rooted in the lauded Netflix Daredevil series, owes much to Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin portrayal. Their complex relationship, a blend of respect and enmity, teases a riveting confrontation as Daredevil confronts a newly empowered nemesis.
