Follow

Followed

More Action

Sign in now

Close

I Need The MCU To Address These 10 Cliffhangers That Have Remained Unanswered For Too Long

By Richard Craig

Published Apr 18, 2025

Follow

Followed

Sign in to your ScreenRant

Custom image by Yailin Chacon

The Multiverse Saga has introduced mind-bending ideas and thrilling possibilities to the the MCU's future.

The Multiverse Saga, spanning Phases 4 through 6, represents Marvel Studios’ shift from grounded hero arcs to reality-bending chaos and high-stakes cosmic threats. While the Infinity Saga offered a linear buildup to Avengers: Endgame, the current saga is sprawling, fragmented, and filled with mysteries. Disney+ series like Loki, What If…?, and Ms. Marvel have pushed the boundaries of what’s canon, while films like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania cracked open the multiverse at large.

10 Doctor Strange Investigates An Incursion With Clea

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, a mid-credits scene introduced Charlize Theron as Clea. Clea is a sorceress from the Dark Dimension who warns Strange about an incursion – a catastrophic collision of two universes. This moment teased a cosmic-level crisis brewing beneath the surface of the MCU, with many presuming this would lead into the Multiverse Saga’s finale.

Ben Affleck's Batman with Ian McKellen's Magneto and Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man

Related

I'm Still Sad We Never Got To See These 12 Abandoned Comic Book Movies

Both Marvel and DC nearly made some truly dynamic and promising superhero movies before completely abandoned them, much to my disappointment.

Posts 3

However, Strange’s journey with Clea remains completely unexplored. The scene hinted at Strange’s evolving role as a guardian of the multiverse, yet audiences are still waiting for a proper update. Clea’s appearance implied that Dormammu’s realm and possibly other mystical universes would play a larger role in the Multiverse Saga. Given the multiversal chaos teased across Loki and Quantumania, this plot thread seems crucial – and yet, it’s been radio silence. This is one of the biggest unresolved cliffhangers in the saga.

9 Doctor Strange Merges With The Darkhold

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

Another major cliffhanger from Multiverse of Madness is the revelation that Doctor Strange has been corrupted – or at least deeply affected – by his use of the Darkhold. The final moments of the film show him developing a third eye, a mystical mark of dark magic often associated with sinister variants and forbidden knowledge. Though the Clea scene somewhat normalizes his transformation, the implications are ominous.

Multiverse of Madness previously depicted a variant of Strange consumed by dark magic becoming a multiversal threat, suggesting that the main Strange could be on a similar path. Considering how much it corrupted Wanda Maximoff, it’s safe to assume that something major will unfold for or with Doctor Strange. This has left a lot of unanswered questions, particularly whether Strange will be a hero or a threat when Secret Wars arrives.

8 Arishem's Judgement Of Earth

Eternals

Eternals ended with a literal god looming over Earth as Arishem, the Celestial responsible for overseeing the creation of universes, abducted Sersi and others to judge humanity’s fate. This colossal event should’ve shaken the foundations of the MCU – yet none of the subsequent films or series have even acknowledged it. A celestial-sized being hovering in the sky isn’t exactly subtle, and Arishem’s judgment potentially threatens the entire planet’s existence.

MCU's MODOK, Red Skull, and Quicksilver

Related

10 MCU Hero & Villain Endings You Couldn’t Have Possibly Predicted When They First Debuted

The MCU is great at taking characters in unexpected directions, with some ending up in wildly different places than anybody could have expected.

Posts 2

The MCU’s tendency to compartmentalize stories has kept Eternals oddly isolated, but ignoring a plot this massive feels like a glaring oversight. With Secret Wars promising to reset or reshape the multiverse, Arishem’s actions could factor heavily into Earth’s future. Whether he deems humanity worthy or not, the absence of any reference to this judgment is one of the saga’s most mystifying loose ends. This cliffhanger also infamously introduced Harry Styles as Starfox only to quickly forget him.

7 The Signal Coming From The 10 Rings

Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings

In the mid-credits scene of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Wong, Bruce Banner, and Captain Marvel analyze the Ten Rings and uncover a mysterious beacon being transmitted from them. The origin is unknown, but it’s implied the rings are far older than initially believed and possibly not of Earthly or even Kree origin. The inclusion of the Avengers suggested a much larger threat.

The signal’s multiversal or cosmic implications have yet to be explored, but it was presented as a landmark moment. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has not divulged who or what the rings were signalling, but it was initially speculated to be related to Kang. Others theorize they’re linked to the Celestials or even the Quantum Realm. Yet Shang-Chi hasn’t returned since his debut film, and this mystery remains wide open – another Multiverse Saga breadcrumb still waiting for resolution.

6 The Symbiote Left Behind In The MCU

Spider-Man: No Way Home

One of Spider-Man: No Way Home’s most tantalizing teases came in its post-credits scene. Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) briefly crossed over into the MCU, only to return to his universe – leaving behind a small piece of the Venom symbiote. This tiny remnant sets up an exciting arc for Spider-Man’s future, potentially introducing the classic black suit storyline. Yet since that scene, there’s been zero follow-up. Neither Spider-Man: No Way Home nor Venom: Let There Be Carnage expanded on the crossover implications.

Tom Holland as Spider-Man and Charlie Cox as Daredevil

Related

Where Is Spider-Man In Daredevil: Born Again And Why Tom Holland's Marvel Hero Didn't Appear In The Finale

Despite the incredibly landmark events that unfolded in New York City in Daredevil: Born Again season 1, Spider-Man was completely absent.

Posts 4

As the Multiverse Saga continues, the unanswered question remains: will this symbiote bond with Tom Holland’s Peter Parker, or someone else entirely? Given the importance of symbiotes in Marvel lore – and the anticipation surrounding a Venom-Spidey clash – this cliffhanger begs for payoff, especially with Avengers: Secret Wars on the horizon – which famously debuted Spidey’s black costume.

5 The Council Of Kangs

Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania

In Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, the mid-credits scene introduced the Council of Kangs – thousands of variants united in response to the death of Kang the Conqueror. Led by Immortus, Rama-Tut, and the Scarlet Centurion, this powerful assembly teased a multiversal reckoning, expected to culminate in Avengers: Kang Dynasty. However, with Jonathan Majors now out as Kang, the MCU’s long-term plans have pivoted. Kang has been replaced by Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday instead.

While the decision behind this is understandable, the MCU does still need to address it narratively. Several projects were building towards Kang’s return, so their ominous presence demands attention. They represented the Multiverse Saga's biggest narrative throughline, hinting at chaos across timelines. Without an update, this pivotal setup risks being left adrift. Whether recast or reworked, the Kangs need resolution. Their story wasn’t just a subplot, it was the whole point.

4 The Legendary Star-Lord Will Return

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 wrapped up the cosmic team's trilogy beautifully – but it ended with one surprising promise: "The Legendary Star-Lord will return." Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) chose to retire on Earth, reconnecting with his grandfather, a surprisingly down-to-earth moment for a space-faring hero. Yet this ending explicitly promised more from the beloved character and Pratt’s highly-regarded performance.

It remains unclear whether Star-Lord lead a solo Earth-bound adventure, return to space, or play a key role in a future crossover. Many have speculated that he will return in Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars. Given his ties to both cosmic threats and grounded heroes, he could bridge storylines or appear as a variant. With the Multiverse Saga reaching its climax and cosmic story arcs heating up, Marvel needs to make good on that bold promise soon.

3 Monica Rambeau Meets The X-Men

The Marvels

In The Marvels' post-credits scene, Monica Rambeau wakes up in a mysterious alternate universe, seemingly in the X-Men’s world. She’s greeted by a variant of her mother, Maria Rambeau, now Binary – alongside Beast (voiced by Kelsey Grammer). This cameo confirmed the existence of a mutant reality parallel to the primary MCU universe and hinted at Monica’s possible crossover with the X-Men. However, since that brief scene, there have been no confirmed developments.

Kelsey Grammer's Beast, with Deadpool and Wolverine

Related

The MCU's Biggest Box Office Bomb Is Now The Multiverse Saga's Most Important Movie So Far So Here Are 9 Reasons Why It's Worth Watching Or Rewatching

Though mocked, the MCU’s worst performing movie increasingly seems like the most important in the Multiverse Saga, offering some crucial developments.

Posts 7

This was one of the most significant multiversal teases so far, combining cosmic and mutant plotlines for the first time in the MCU. It signalled both the introduction of the X-Men while opening up possibilities for a multiversal adventure. This will presumably be addressed in Avengers: Doomsday, which confirmed several X-Men among its cast, including Grammer. Monica’s presence in their world could be the perfect bridge, but until Marvel continues this thread, audiences are left speculating on when and how she’ll return.

2 Blade And The Black Knight

Eternals

Eternals introduced Dane Whitman (Kit Harington) as a potential wielder of the Ebony Blade, teasing his transformation into the Black Knight. In the post-credits scene, just as Dane reaches for the sword, he’s interrupted by the voice of Mahershala Ali’s Blade – marking Blade’s first appearance in the MCU. Since then, both characters have been stuck in development limbo.

Blade’s solo film has faced multiple delays and rewrites, and the Black Knight hasn’t appeared again. Yet their supernatural connection hints at a darker, mystical corner of the MCU waiting to be explored. Many are eager to see how this team-up plays out, especially with threats like vampires and ancient evils potentially in play. The triumph of Deadpool & Wolverine’s R-rated adventure proved the possibility of an adult narrative. However, the MCU has left this thread dangling.

1 Kamala Khan Sets Up The Young Avengers

The Marvels

The Marvels ends with Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) recruiting Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) for a new team – clearly evoking Nick Fury’s original Avengers Initiative. This marks the most direct setup yet for the Young Avengers, a team audiences have been eagerly anticipating. The MCU has slowly assembled the pieces: America Chavez, Cassie Lang, Eli Bradley, and now Kamala and Kate. However, this payoff is danger of being completely lost.

Marvel hasn’t officially announced a Young Avengers project, despite this clear buildup. Kamala’s initiative shows a proactive, modern hero stepping into the leadership role, making her an ideal centerpiece for the next generation. With so many young heroes already introduced, this cliffhanger needs a proper resolution before the momentum behind it fades. As Sam Wilson is similarly amassing his own Avengers team, the status will hopefully be addressed as the MCU nears Phase 6.

MCU Movies

Thunderbolts*

Powered by

Expand Collapse
The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Powered by

Expand Collapse
Avengers: Doomsday

Powered by

Expand Collapse
Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Powered by

Expand Collapse
Avengers: Secret Wars

Powered by

Expand Collapse