While post-credit scenes in movies aren’t new, the current phenomenon of including them in films can be traced back to 2008’s Iron Man, when the post-credits in the first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) teased the formation of the Avengers, after Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) asked Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) if he’s aware of the Avengers Initiative.
Basically, these scenes serve mainly to set up subsequent movies, though some are used as punchlines and one-off references. For the most part, the MCU has done an incredible job in setting things up for the future… until it didn’t. The current Phase 5 of the MCU is coming to an end in mid-2025, but the post-credits in the previous Phase 4 movies have raised more questions than answers, as most, if not all, of the post-credit scenes have yet to be addressed. As fans, we’re still waiting for the payoff on some of them, and are still wondering about certain scenes that had implications for multiple characters, but have never came up again.
Here are our top 10.
1. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
In the mid-credits scene of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) and Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) meet with Wong (Benedict Wong), Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), and Katy Chen (Awkwafina) via holograms to observe the Ten Rings and discuss its origin, and the group discover that the rings are sending a message. Meanwhile, Xu Xialing (Meng’er Zhang) takes her father’s spot as leader of the Ten Rings organization, accompanied by Razor Fist (Florian Munteanu) and Jon Jon (Ronny Chieng).
While the movie was a huge hit, Shang-Chi and Katy have not appeared in any other MCU films, despite having met the Avengers. More importantly, the mythical power of the Ten Rings, which grant its wielder enhanced strength and immortality, and has even unleashed a powerful shockwave, have yet to be referenced again. With Shang-Chi as the current wielder of the Ten Rings, there’s plenty of room in the MCU for them to show up though neither has.
There hasn’t been any huge news of a Shang-Chi sequel for years despite the first one being a hit, though Simu Liu recently reassured fans it was ‘happening’, so why the long wait?
2. Eternals (2021)
After the rest of the Eternals were abducted by Arishem the Judge, Makkari (Lauren Ridloff), Druig (Barry Keoghan), and Thena (Angelina Jolie) are adrift in space on the Domo. They encounter Eros (Harry Styles), who, in the comics, is the brother of Thanos, and his troll companion Pip (Patton Oswalt), who claims to know where the rest of their allies are.
Meanwhile, Dane Whitman (Kit Harington) reluctantly opens a case containing an ancient enchanted sword, and is suddenly called away by an off-screen voice.
There has been speculation that events in Eternals occur on Earth in another reality but the sword Whitman revealed is the Ebony Blade and he’s destined to become the Black Knight. And that off-camera voice belongs to Blade (Mahershala Ali) and while the Blade film is currently stuck in development hell, there are no other indications of an alternate reality setting. So what do both these post credits link to? No one knows.
Let’s ignore the fact that this film revealed that Tiamut the Communicator’s gigantic stone hand emerged in the middle of the Indian Ocean, but aside from a throwaway reference in Disney+’s She-Hulk, there has been no direct mention of any resulting impact from its appearance in the MCU, despite the government’s strong interference with anomaly related phenomena. The film ended up being a box-office disappointment, placing similarly to the Marvels in the MCU’s lowest grossing revenue stats. Meanwhile, the Eternals have not been sighted since, and Marvel has conveniently forgotten about their existence.
3. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Venom’s Eddie Brock drinks at a bar, discussing the Avengers, Thanos, and the Snap with a bartender. Brock and Venom consider finding Spider-Man; however, both of them are suddenly transported back to their universe by Doctor Strange’s spell. A small remnant of the Venom symbiote is left behind on the counter table, which could have bigger consequences for the MCU.
With the final Venom movie coming out this year, we might get some answers, but it would be the MCU’s last chance to address this post-credit scene, whether as an integral part of the plot, or as a plot point that was resolved before the start of Venom: The Last Dance. Yes, the recent trailer for this movie seemingly references the symbiote remnant, but Sony’s Spider-Man universe of films aren’s known for their logical narratives to the MCU.
4. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
At the end of the Multiverse of Madness, Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is confronted by Clea (Charlize Theron) about a multiversal incursion that he caused, and she opens a portal to the Dark Dimension and the two decide to put an end to it. Given how recent Multiverse of Madness was, this is likely setup for the next film, though it has not been announced on Marvel’s release calendar.
Fans may not have been happy with the other cameos in that film, but how do you add Charlize Theron into the MCU and do nothing about it? If Doctor Strange makes an appearance in Avengers 5 (which Cumberbatch infers that he’s filming), we could get the payoff to this post-credits scene soon enough.
5. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Thor: Love and Thunder introduces the Greek gods with Zeus (Russell Crowe), and the end of the film sees Zeus send out his son, Hercules (Brett Goldstein), to kill Thor for disgracing his image. Which isn’t a plot we haven’t seen before, and the god-killing storyline seems repetitive at this point, but what’s the deal with Hercules? There’s no news of a fifth Thor movie, even though Furiosa director George Miller looks open to helming it, and given Chris Hemsworth’s willingness to return, it seems like a given even though it’ll be a while before we see this coda touched on, if any.
6. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
The death of Chadwick Boseman was a huge loss to Hollwyood and to the MCU, and that loss was incredibly apparent in the Black Panther sequel, Wakanda Forever. After taking over the mantle held by her brother, T’Challa, Shuri saves the day and the post-credits has her meet her brother’s ex-girlfriend, Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) in Haiti. Nakia presents her son Toussaint and when Shuri says she can keep secrets, Toussaint reveals that his true name is T’Challa, after his father.
The younger T’Challa’s reveal switches things up once again, and either him or Shuri could take on the mantle of Black Panther. The inclusion of Riri, aka Ironheart (Dominique Thorne) in the film indicates her story could continue those plot threads, as she was a central character in Wakanda Forever, and closely connected with Shuri. But so far, these has been little news of her Disney+ series.
7. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) spends the morning enjoying breakfast with his grandfather on Earth, who is reading a paper about Kevin Bacon’s abduction from Earth. This is actually a callback to the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, which saw Drax (Dave Bautista) abduct Kevin Bacon as a Christmas present, wrapping up in the series in a humorous way. But more importantly, the scene ended with a title card saying that ‘The Legendary Star-Lord Will Return’, instead of the usual Guardians crew.
Meanwhile, out in space, Rocket (Bradley Cooper), Groot (Vin Diesel), Kraglin (Sean Gunn), Cosmo (Maria Bakalova), Adam (Will Poulter), and Phyla (Ming-Na Wen) suit up for a mission in a mid-credits scene, which could hint at a new incarnation of the Guardians of the Galaxy. But with series architect James Gunn moving over to DC Studios and Warner Brothers, there hasn’t been talk of another Guardians movie or project yet. Where Peter or his friends will pop up next is anyone’s guess.
8. WandaVision (2021)
WandaVision flipped the script in a creative way in 2021, giving the Marvel TV series a show-within-a-show format. And in its last moments, the show revealed the existence of Wanda’s (Elizabeth Olsen) true cyborg lover, White Vision (Paul Bettany). But this version of The Vision wasn’t created by Wanda, as he/it first showed up in Westview in a mid-credits scene in Episode 8 of the series, battling Wanda and eventually having his memories restored.
Four years later, White Vision still hasn’t shown up anywhere else, though there has been a recent announcement that Paul Bettany will return in a Disney+ Vision series, which could provide some answers.
9. The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (2021)
The Falcon and The Winter Soldier ended with The Power Broker, Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp), getting her pardon and contacting a mysterious agent, as well as introducing Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), who John Walker (Wyatt Russell) aka U.S. Agent now works for. Contessa has appeared in Phase Five of the MCU, in Black Widow (2017) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), but John Walker has not made another appearance since.
It’s likely this is setup for the next Captain America film and that’s why it hasn’t been addressed, but Sharon Carter and John Walker working together could pose a significant threat for the new Captain America. Given that Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts are premiering in 2025, it will offer some closure for fans.
10. Moon Knight (2022)
In the end credits of Disney+’s Moon Knight series, Jake Lockley, Marc Spector’s third alter ego who is still bound to Khonshu, appears, proceeding to execute cult leader Arthur Harrow (Ethan Hawke) before driving away, hinting at a far more dangerous third party. Despite this revelation, it looks like Moon Knight’s mysteries will remain unsolved, as star Oscar Isaac only signed a one-season deal, and the MCU has largely steered clear of making any further references to the show.
BONUS: PHASE 5
1. The Marvels (2023)
After Monica Rambeau’s (Teyonah Parris) apparent death from sacrificing herself at the end of The Marvels, she wakes up in the hospital wing of the X-Mansion to see Binary (Lashana Lynch) sitting by her side. Binary bears a striking similarity to her deceased mother, and Rambeau is relieved to see the person she believes to be her mother still alive. Until Beast (Kelsey Grammer)walks in and informs Rambeau that she’s landed in another universe, much to her surprise.
As far as the cast of The Marvels knows, Monica is presumed dead, but she was actually transported to another universe where the X-Men exist. There likely won’t be a second sequel as this film ended up becoming one of the MCU’s lowest-grossing films. Nothing has been addressed so far although fans are hopeful for a potential Marvel/X-Men crossover in the upcoming Deadpool Vs. Wolverine.
2. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2021)
In a plot that was meant to serve as foreshadowing for the now-scrapped Avengers: The Kang Dynasty aka Avengers 5 film, the Council of Kangs, led by Immortus, Rama-Tut and Centurion (all played by Jonathan Majors) meet in the wake of Kang the Conqueror’s death as they fear the tampering of the Multiverse will lead to their destruction. Or at least, that was supposed to become a larger plot thread until Majors was convicted on assault charges, and Marvel fired him. This meant writing Kang out of the MCU for now and the second season of Loki addresses this by handwaving away the events of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, neatly wrapping up the conundrum in a case file, saying the situation has been “handled”.
With Avengers 5 no longer being titled The Kang Dynasty, it seems that Marvel wants to conveniently explain away what could’ve been a feature-length plot, so this plot thread will likely remain a mystery for the foreseeable future.
Trinity is a geek who enjoys watching anime, superhero and Sci-Fi movies and TV shows. She enjoys gaming (however has terrible gacha luck) and creates cool homebrew campaigns in her free time. She’s always up for a new adventure — with a cosy jacket and a good book in hand.
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