Spoiler warning: This article discusses major Marvel Studios films and series released from 2021 through Avengers: Doomsday.
The Infinity Saga gave Marvel’s films a clear destination: 23 movies building towards Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Since that storyline concluded with 2019’s Spider-Man: Far From Home, the studio has introduced plenty of new heroes, villains and cosmic mysteries without resolving all of them.
Here are the biggest post-credits teases and story threads that remain unresolved, from Shang-Chi’s mysterious rings to the future of the Hulk family.
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10. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
The tease
Wong brings Shang-Chi and Katy to Kamar-Taj, where they speak with Bruce Banner and Carol Danvers via hologram. The heroes determine that Shang-Chi’s ten rings are ancient devices transmitting a signal to an unknown recipient.
A second credits scene reveals that Shang-Chi’s sister, Xialing, has taken control of the Ten Rings. Although she previously said she would dismantle the organisation, she is instead modernising it and opening membership to women.
What happens next?
A sequel has been discussed, but director Destin Daniel Cretton has also been occupied with Spider-Man: Brand New Day and a planned Naruto film. Simu Liu is confirmed to return as Shang-Chi in Avengers: Doomsday. The identity of the rings’ recipient remains unknown.
9. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
The tease
John Walker loses the Captain America title after a disastrous mission, while Sam Wilson accepts the shield and becomes Captain America. Walker is then recruited by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, receives a new suit and adopts the U.S. Agent identity.
The series also exposes Sharon Carter as the Power Broker. Despite her criminal activity during Captain America: Civil War, she receives a government pardon and a CIA position, then immediately begins discussing the sale of classified technology and weapons.
What happens next?
Captain America: Brave New World develops Sam’s new role, with Harrison Ford playing Thaddeus Ross and Tim Blake Nelson returning as the Leader. By Thunderbolts*, Sam appears to be the only official Captain America, while Walker operates as an unauthorised shield-wielding mercenary. The films also suggest that Sam’s and Walker’s competing teams may still contest the Avengers name. Sam and Bucky Barnes are confirmed to return in Avengers: Doomsday, while Sharon Carter’s future is less clear.
8. Eternals
The tease
The film leaves a giant Celestial body protruding from the Indian Ocean and sends Thena, Makkari and Druig into space aboard the Domo. They meet Eros, also known as Starfox and played by Harry Styles, plus Pip the Troll, voiced by Patton Oswalt. Eros warns that their missing friends are in serious trouble.
Meanwhile, Dane Whitman opens a case containing the Ebony Blade. An unseen voice belonging to Blade asks whether Whitman is ready to wield it.
What happens next?
No sequel is currently among Marvel’s announced projects, although director Chloé Zhao has expressed interest in returning. Whitman appears destined to become the Black Knight, while the Ebony Blade seemed connected to the planned Blade film. The future of both characters remains uncertain.
7. Spider-Man: No Way Home
The tease
Doctor Strange’s final spell removes Peter Parker’s identity from everyone’s memory. Peter is left to rebuild his life without his friends, family, technology or even a completed high-school education.
The credits also reveal that Eddie Brock and Venom briefly visited the core Marvel reality before the spell returned them home. A small fragment of the symbiote remains behind.
What happens next?
Spider-Man: Brand New Day brings Peter back into contact with people including MJ and Ned Leeds, although their memories of him appear to remain erased. A handshake between Peter and Ned leaves a small degree of ambiguity.
The abandoned symbiote fragment could still lead to a black-suit storyline or a Marvel version of Venom. Tom Hardy has suggested he would return opposite Tom Holland, although plans for that crossover have reportedly stalled. The symbiote was not addressed directly in Brand New Day, despite that film leaving the possibility open.
6. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
The tease
After using the Darkhold, Stephen Strange develops a third eye. He is then approached by Clea, played by Charlize Theron, who says his actions have caused an incursion. Strange follows her into the Dark Dimension, the realm associated with Dormammu and Clea’s family.
What happens next?
Strange and Clea have a long-running romantic connection in Marvel Comics, making a future partnership plausible. The film also introduces America Chavez, a natural candidate for a Young Avengers story.
5. Moon Knight
The tease
The series confirms that Marc Spector and Steven Grant share their mind with a third personality: Jake Lockley. Still working with Khonshu, Jake kills Arthur Harrow in a limousine. With the god Ammit inside Harrow, the scene also appears to end Ammit’s threat.
What happens next?
Marvel has not confirmed a second season, and a continuation currently seems unlikely. Moon Knight could still return in a supernatural or horror-focused project alongside characters from Werewolf by Night and Agatha All Along. A future appearance could also reunite Oscar Isaac with May Calamawy’s Layla, now the Scarlet Scarab.
4. Thor: Love and Thunder
The tease
Thor leaves the film caring for his adopted daughter, Love, who wields Stormbreaker. Zeus also sends his son Hercules, played by Brett Goldstein, to hunt Thor.
What happens next?
Chris Hemsworth remains open to another Thor film provided it offers an unpredictable story. Taika Waititi has said he was surprised by the promise that Thor would return, but has considered coming back for an unusual follow-up. Hemsworth and Thor’s daughter are confirmed for Avengers: Doomsday; Hercules’ involvement has not been confirmed.
3. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
The tease
The finale reveals that Bruce Banner has a son named Skaar, conceived during his time on Sakaar. It also shows Wong removing Emil Blonsky, the Abomination, from his prison and taking him to Kamar-Taj.
What happens next?
A second season of She-Hulk appears unlikely, with Tatiana Maslany saying Marvel chose not to continue the series. Skaar could return as part of a Young Avengers storyline, while Blonsky would fit naturally into a future Hulk project.
2. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
The tease
The film’s mid-credits scene introduces Toussaint, the secret son of T’Challa and Nakia. The closing message confirms that Black Panther will return. The child’s introduction also reflects an earlier concept for the sequel: a story in which T’Challa saves the world while caring for his son.
What happens next?
A third Black Panther film is planned, and Letitia Wright is set to return in Avengers: Doomsday. T’Challa’s son is expected eventually to inherit the Black Panther mantle, with David Jonsson attached to play him.
1. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
The tease
Kang the Conqueror is pulled into a power core, but his apparent death leads to a larger threat. The mid-credits scene introduces the Council of Kangs: hundreds of variants led by Immortus, all preparing for multiversal conquest.
What happens next?
Kang was originally positioned as the central villain of the Multiverse Saga and was set to headline Avengers: The Kang Dynasty. Marvel later dropped Jonathan Majors after a jury found him guilty of assault and harassment charges. The second season of Loki also appears to resolve much of the Kang-related multiversal crisis.
Avengers: The Kang Dynasty was reworked and retitled Avengers: Doomsday, with Robert Downey Jr. playing Victor von Doom as the primary antagonist. The Council of Kangs may ultimately become one of Marvel’s abandoned storylines.
These unresolved threads show why long-running cinematic universes can resemble a sprawling arcade game: every new stage can introduce another boss, secret route or unfinished challenge. If you are building an entertainment room around your favourite franchises, compare RETROCADE’s arcade machines, compact bartop arcades and arcade machine buying guide.
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