“But by the way, we still haven’t heard from Hulk’s son?” It’s been a tradition at Marvel Studios since the first Iron Man. After Jon Favreau’s film, viewers who had remained in the dark at the cinema were stunned to discover that Samuel L. Jackson had been recruited to play a certain Nick Fury. A name that meant nothing to ordinary mortals, but that comic book fans knew very well. After the credits, Marvel laid the foundation stone for its Avengers, a huge saga that continues to regularly grace our screens.
Many crucial elements for the MCU were hinted at through these post-credits scenes, such as the arrival of Thanos in Avengers. Other times, it's mainly about offering a little bonus, like Baby Groot dancing at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy. More rarely, and a little less so in recent years, the House of Ideas announces events that will never come to fruition. A look back at these scenes whose significance we still don't quite grasp.
Spider-Man Homecoming – 2017
After Sam Raimi's trilogy and Marc Webb's two films, Jon Watts is devoting himself to a new iteration of Spider-Man. This time, in collaboration with Sony Pictures, Marvel Studios is in the equation. Tom Holland's Peter Parker is integrated into the MCU; he will be the only hero to benefit from such preferential treatment. It is against the Vulture that the web-slinger shows the extent of his talents for the first time. Unsurprisingly, he manages to have the man who was using Chitauri equipment to make weapons and sell them on the black market imprisoned. In prison, in a post-credits scene, Adrian Toomes meets another famous antagonist from the comics: Scorpion.
The character played by Michael Mando intervened to ask the Vulture if he knew the true identity of this vigilante. The character played by Michael Keaton remains silent, before making an unexplained appearance in Morbius in another reality (but that's another matter). And Scorpion? He was never shown again and was probably just a nod to the comics. The question of Spider-Man's anonymity will be exploited in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – 2021
In 2021, Marvel introduced a completely new hero played by Simu Liu. After having diverted the mythology of the Ten Rings and the Mandarin for the needs of Iron Man 3, the team finally presented the antagonist and his artifacts as they are known to comic book readers. Shang-Chi's early adventures led him to acquire the ten rings of power his father had previously wielded. With the help of Captain Marvel, Wong, and Bruce Banner, the character explores his abilities in a post-credits scene. It is then a question of understanding their origin and better grasping their power.
Quickly, the singularity of the metal and its properties is evoked. Nothing known on Earth resembles these rings and the spectators believe they see a first reference to the multiverse. For others, it's confirmation that the antagonist Fin Fang Foom would be at the epicenter of Shang-Chi 2. Except that this second installment has not yet been officially announced and there's no indication that it will be in the near future. We can still say that the official announcement of Simu Liu in the cast of Avengers: Doomsday is something to be happy about and that the answer to the origins of the rings could still be found there.
The Eternals – 2021
Disowned by some audiences and a failure at the global box office, The Eternals was a rough patch for Marvel. Yet, with an Oscar-winning director at the helm, the studio had given itself the means to surprise the world. In front of her camera, a whole new team of superheroes is immortalized, extraordinary, millennial people who have lived below the radar since the dawn of time. One of the heroines, Sersi, rubs shoulders with a certain Dane Whitman. This name was not chosen by chance; it refers to a comic book hero.
The second post-credits scene shows him in an old house as he opens an old trunk. Inside, a weapon that many will have recognized as that of Black Knight. To find his companion who disappeared during the Blip, he is ready to reconnect with his family heritage. A few seconds later, a voice comes to warn him. Those who paid close attention will have recognized Mahershala Ali. For several years, the actor has been expected to join the MCU to play Blade. But the eponymous project—which has changed hands numerous times—is still at a standstill. Dane Whitman, played by Kit Harrington, will never have been entitled to a return to our screens.
No Way Home – 2021
The last Spider-Man film was a dantesque reunion of all the actors who played the role of Spider-Man and their enemies. The Green Goblin, Octopus, and also the Lizard, Jon Watts held back nothing for his last lap. However, one character was missing, at least before the credits rolled. “EDDIE…”
Eddie Brock and Venom appeared in a post-credits scene, where we see the former journalist and his symbiote in a bar. Before being sent back to his own reality, Venom leaves some of his DNA behind and likely contaminates a human in Tom Holland's Peter Parker's reality. While the scene was replayed in Venom 3, the film simply recounted what happened when they returned home. We therefore do not yet know if a Venom could have been born within the MCU, or even if this idea will be exploited in the future. Sony's universe being a resounding failure...
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania – 2023
The Kang Council was the most anticipated event in the third installment of Scott Lang's adventures. Peyton Reed's film had the status of opening a new phase, supposed to lay the foundations of the plot before Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars. Except that the conviction of Jonathan Majors will push the big-eared company to revise its plans and focus on another villain. So, the multiverse is now in the hands of Doctor Doom. Not surprising since this coincides with the arrival of the Fantastic Four in the MCU.
The two scenes from Quantumania are therefore completely obsolete. A priori, the Kang Council should not intervene to prevent the Avengers from playing with the multiverse; it will probably be the TVA that will be responsible for this. Moreover, it should be noted that the departure of the character played by Jonathan Majors has not signed the death warrant for all the heroes evolving in his wake... starting with Loki. Tom Hiddleston has just been announced in the cast of Doomsday. It remains to be seen which side of history he will be on. Doom and the God of Mischief united by their passion for green?
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – 2023
While their encounter seems rather impromptu, and obviously refers to Stephen's early adventures in front of Scott Derrickson's camera, it must be admitted that the post-credits scene opens some doors for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And for the moment, there's nothing to say that this will never be exploited. While Marvel has since made the decision to abandon Kang the Conqueror to focus on Doom, the multiverse remains an essential element of Kevin Feige's plan. Clea and Strange could be called in as reinforcements for the next Avengers.
If Benedict Cumberbatch's name wasn't mentioned during Wednesday's event, it's hard to imagine the House of Ideas doing without him in Secret Wars. The post-credits scene ultimately serves primarily to demonstrate that Doctor Strange has left New York and thus explain why he might be a little slower to appear in the next Avengers. It was also an opportunity to give Strange closure on Christine Palmer.
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