Many of Marvel Studios' teased characters and storylines in Phases 4 and 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe probably won't get paid off for several years. One of the most entertaining qualities of Marvel Studios' shared universe is the fact that storylines can be introduced in one project and developed further in another. This has been used to tease the Avengers in Iron Man, Captain America's reawakening in The First Avenger, and the existence of Wakanda in Captain America: Civil War. However, audiences have often had to wait for several years to see these teases paid off, which became a more prominent issue with the MCU's expansion in Phase 4.
In the wake of Avengers: Endgame and the conclusion of the MCU's Infinity Saga, the inception of Disney+ allowed Marvel Studios to develop long-form TV series set within the world of the MCU. This made Phase 4 the MCU's biggest era since it began, consisting of seven feature films, eight TV shows, and two Special Presentations, each teasing exciting new characters and storylines that show no sign of getting delivered on. Phase 5 appears to be continuing this controversial pattern, leading to many questions concerning when these loose ends will be revisited. Here are 12 major examples of Phase 4 and 5 teases that won't get paid off anytime soon.
12 White Vision Is Missing After WandaVision
WandaVision marked the start of Marvel Studios' stories unfolding on Disney+, with the 2021 series focusing on Wanda Maximoff and Vision following their traumatic experiences during Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. While the series finally saw Wanda embrace her identity as the Scarlet Witch, WandaVision also introduced White Vision to the MCU - the original Vision, rebuilt and redesigned. By the end of WandaVision, the Scarlet Witch had released Westview from her grasp, and White Vision had disappeared to destinations unknown. This storyline is expected to continue in the MCU's Vision Quest, but with no scheduled release date, it's unclear when exactly this will be.
11 Shang-Chi's Ten Rings Are Still Sending Their Beacon
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is widely regarded as one of the strongest installments of the MCU's Phase 4, introducing Simu Liu to the MCU as the titular Shang-Chi, the new wielder of the mystical Ten Rings. In Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' mid-credits scene, Shang-Chi is met by Wong, Captain Marvel, and Bruce Banner, and it's revealed that his Ten Rings are sending a beacon out into the cosmos. With no further information given since the film's 2021 release, it's unclear who this beacon is being sent to, though one popular theory suggests that this could tie to the MCU's Kang the Conqueror.
10 Arishem The Celestial Plans On Judging Earth
In an effort to expand the cosmic side of the MCU while being primarily Earth-based, Phase 4's Eternals properly introduced the MCU's Celestials. While the Celestial Tiamut's emergence created one of the MCU's biggest missing plots, the Celestial Arishem's judgment of Earth is something that might not get delivered on for several years. Arishem the Judge was the Eternals' guide, so when the team betrayed him, he took them from Earth and vowed to judge the planet's worth. This was a major event in Phase 4, but it hasn't been mentioned since, and with no clear direction for the Eternals' MCU future, it's unclear when this will be revisited.
9 Harry Styles' Starfox ing The MCU In Eternals
Eternals seems to be the biggest offender when it comes to teasing stories that won't see a payoff for several years. As well as suggesting that the Celestial Arishem will return to judge Earth, Eternals' mid-credits scene debuted Harry Styles in the MCU as the controversial character Eros, a.k.a. Starfox. As the brother of Thanos, it would be great to see Eros return to the MCU to develop his backstory and cement his connection to Thanos - especially since the Mad Titan's backstory was changed for the MCU. However, there has been no word of Styles' return, so viewers will have to wait longer to have these gaps filled in.
8 Dane Whitman's Ebony Blade In Eternals
As well as introducing 10 new superheroes to the MCU in the form of the Eternals, Chloé Zhao's Marvel Studios debut also saw the first appearance of Kit Harrington as Dane Whitman. In Marvel Comics, Whitman becomes the Black Knight, transformed by the Ebony Blade, which can be seen in Eternals' post-credits scene. Mahershala Ali also had a voice cameo as Blade in this scene, which led to speculation that Dane Whitman would have a role in Phase 5's Blade. However, recent news suggests Harrington's role in the film has been seriously diminished, so it's unclear when Dane Whitman will finally wield the Ebony Blade in the MCU.
7 Jake Lockley Killed Arthur Harrow In Moon Knight
Oscar Isaac's Moon Knight was one of the most highly anticipated debuts of the MCU's Phase 4, as he is an incredibly popular character in Marvel Comics. With a strong start in Moon Knight, however, there's been no confirmation of a second season, or the character being included in any MCU projects, which leaves Moon Knight's cliffhanger ending unanswered. After being teased throughout the series, Jake Lockley, Marc Spector's mysterious third alter after Steven Grant, appeared in Moon Knight's finale's mid-credits scene, shown to have killed Arthur Harrow and Ammit. While this was a brilliant reveal, viewers are still waiting for this story to continue.
6 Doctor Strange Caused An Incursion In Multiverse Of Madness
After Loki on Disney+ saw the multiverse cracked open following He Who Remains' death, Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness saw its power unleashed on the MCU. Since these projects released one-after-another, the through-line was clear. However, Multiverse of Madness' post-credits scene saw the introduction of Charlize Theron as Clea, who revealed that Doctor Strange had caused an incursion - a massive, multiverse-threatening event - which hasn't been mentioned or even hinted at since. It seems as though a potential incursion should be a much bigger event, happening much quicker in the MCU, but this has been all but forgotten.
5 Hercules In Thor: Love & Thunder
Phase 4's Thor: Love & Thunder came under a huge amount of scrutiny by Marvel Studios' audiences, with many feeling as though Thor's story following Infinity War and Endgame wasn't done justice. Even so, the film did make attempts at expanding the wider world of the MCU, particularly through its introduction of Brett Goldstein as Hercules, an iconic and highly anticipated character from Marvel Comics. While Hercules' MCU debut is incredibly exciting for die-hard fans of Marvel Comics, the fact that he hasn't yet made another appearance raises the question as to when he might. The longer the wait, the more awkward his official debut will be.
4 Skaar In She-Hulk: Attorney At Law
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law marked a change for the MCU, delivering the franchise's first legal comedy, putting Tatiana Maslany's Jennifer Walters, Bruce Banner's cousin, front-and-center. Maslany's performance as Jen and She-Hulk was brilliant, but the series' relentless cameos perhaps overshadowed her debut. Not only did She-Hulk: Attorney at Law mark the return of Abomination, but the finale featured the shock introduction of the Hulk's son, Skaar. Skaar is crucial to Marvel Comics' World War Hulk event, leading to speculation that Marvel Studios could be adapting this storyline, but there has been no further mention of him, and not even Banner himself will be seen in the MCU's Phase 5.
3 Prince T'Challa Debuted In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Following Chadwick Boseman's tragic 2020 ing, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever acted as the perfect tribute to both Boseman and his MCU character, the Wakandan King T'Challa. While the citizens of Wakanda were seen reeling in the wake of their king's death throughout the Phase 4 film, Wakanda Forever's post-credits scene perhaps found the perfect way to honor the fallen hero: introducing his secret son, Toussaint, a.k.a. Prince T'Challa. After Divine Love Konadu-Sun's debut as Prince T'Challa, many suspected he could be involved in a potential Young Avengers project in the MCU, which was teased throughout Phase 4, but there has been no confirmation of his return.
