In recent years, Marvel Studios’ expansion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has meant that the franchise has branched out to explore many new storylines, and some of these will be impossible to finish before the end of the Multiverse Saga. Following Avengers: Endgame and the conclusion of the MCU’s Infinity Saga, Marvel Studios began to explore completely separate storylines across film, TV and animation. While this led to some criticism aimed at the disconnection between the MCU’s recent projects, it helped to expand the franchise more than ever before, but not many of these stories will be ending anytime soon.
Some of the MCU’s recent storylines will likely come to an end before the Multiverse Saga concludes with 2027’s Avengers: Secret Wars. This could include Kang the Conqueror’s attack on the multiverse, Doctor Strange’s investigation of incursions, and Shang-Chi explaining the mythology of the mysterious Ten Rings. However, there are many other storylines that probably won’t be resolved before the Multiverse Saga ends, especially after Disney CEO Bob Iger’s recent comments regarding Marvel Studios slowing down its output. This wait may be a shame for some of these stories, though many will be better off getting built up over time.
Tom Holland concluded his first MCU trilogy as Peter Parker’s Spider-Man with 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home, but while this project marked a tragic ending for Parker, it also set up huge storylines for Spider-Man’s MCU future. Marvel Studios and Sony have confirmed that a new Spider-Man trilogy is in development, beginning with the MCU’s Spider-Man 4. While Spider-Man 4 may release in the Multiverse Saga, however, the overall narrative of Peter Parker’s next storyline will presumably take him into the next chapter of the MCU.
Spider-Man: No Way Home ended with everyone in the world forgetting Peter Parker, setting him up as an anonymous superhero for his next adventures. The Phase 4 project also teased Venom for Spider-Man 4 and beyond, and there’s been speculation that Miles Morales could finally debut in the MCU. Spider-Man is expected to be a key player in the MCU for years to come.
Many of the biggest mysteries in the MCU’s Phase 4 began in 2021’s Eternals, including the introduction of Harry Styles’ Eros and Patton Oswalt’s Pip the Troll. These unusual characters debuted in Eternals’ mid-credits scene, promising to help the Eternals rescue their captured friends, but with no sign of Eternals 2 on the horizon for the Multiverse Saga, it’s likely these characters won’t be seen again until Phase 7 or beyond. Eternals was a divisive project in Phase 4, so Marvel Studios may not continue its story for a while.
Even though it might be some time before Eternals’ storyline continues, a sequel does seem necessary. Eros’ debut as Thanos’ brother in Eternals raised huge questions about the Mad Titan’s own backstory and origins on Titan. Josh Brolin has teased Thanos’ return to the MCU, so it’s possible that these questions could be answered, but maybe not for some time.
Another huge debut in the MCU’s Multiverse Saga saw Emilia Clarke’s Skrull G’iah transform into the superpowered Super Skrull. Able to harness the abilities of many iconic MCU characters, G’iah is perhaps the most powerful hero in the franchise now, but there’s been no sign of her return. Despite her character perhaps being able to change the power status of the MCU, Secret Invasion’s disappointing performance may mean G’iah is simply swept under the rug and forgotten about, perhaps never getting a resolution.
While moving on from G’iah is certainly a possibility, a new project has recently been speculated to be in development that would be perfect for the Super Skrull. With rumors of Captain Britain’s MCU debut, it’s possible that Excalibur or MI:13 could form in the MCU’s future. These teams feature a number of British superheroes in Marvel Comics, making them the best fit for the UK-based G’iah.
One of the key storylines that Marvel Studios has been exploring in the Multiverse Saga has nothing to do with the multiverse at all. Since Phase 4’s WandaVision, a number of supernatural, mystical and monstrous characters have been introduced to the MCU. Including the likes of Moon Knight, Man-Thing, Agatha Harkness and Werewolf by Night, Marvel Studios has only just begun its exploration of these supernatural heroes and their foes, and this surely won’t be ending anytime soon.
The debut of so many supernatural heroes in the Multiverse Saga has spurred speculation that Marvel Studios will be bringing together the MCU’s Midnight Sons team. This group battle otherworldly and mystical threats in Marvel Comics, and the foundations have already been laid for its MCU debut. Phase 6’s upcoming Blade reboot is expected to provide real teases towards the team’s formation, as Blade is a key fixture in the Midnight Sons.
Following the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman in 2020, Phase 4’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever explored the audience’s grief over losing the beloved actor, as well as the characters’ grief over losing their King, T’Challa. In a surprise twist in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Nakia introduced Shuri to her and T’Challa’s secret son, Toussaint, a.k.a. Prince T’Challa. This debut teased the evolution of a new Black Panther in the MCU’s future, but this won’t be for several years.
After Boseman’s passing, the question arose whether T’Challa would be recast in the MCU. Other characters have been recast before and since, so this wouldn’t have been too jarring. However, the decision to write T’Challa out of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was perhaps a beautiful way to pay respect to Boseman’s portrayal. Introducing Toussaint provides a great opportunity to transfer T’Challa’s stories in Marvel Comics to a new hero in the future.
While Eros and Pip the Troll’s debuts in Eternals created one huge mystery, another was forged from the massive cliffhanger ending of the Phase 4 project. After the Eternals successfully killed the Celestial Tiamut and avoided the destructive emergence, the Celestial Arishem, the Judge, took them from the Earth and promised to judge humanity on whether they are worthy of survival. It’s already been several years since this promise, and there is still no sign of Arishem passing his judgment, but this must come to pass in the future.
Eternals created so many mysteries, questions, and plot holes that the only project that makes sense to continue its story is Marvel Studios’ potential Eternals 2. Currently, Eternals 2 hasn’t been confirmed, and the divisive nature of the original could mean Marvel Studios will avoid producing a sequel for the time being. This unfortunately means these questions might never be answered.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever not only teased the heroic future of Prince T’Challa, but also the villainous ambitions of Tenoch Huerta’s Namor. As King of the underwater nation of Talokan, Namor’s hatred for the surface world was evident throughout Wakanda Forever, and even saw him promise to take on the surface world one day, hoping that Shuri and Wakanda would join him. However, with no sign of Black Panther 3 yet being in development, it’s very likely that this story won’t be explored until after the Multiverse Saga’s conclusion.
Namor was previously teased to appear in 2026’s Avengers 5 prior to Jeff Loveness and Destin Daniel Cretton departing the project. Now, it’s unclear exactly when the Talokanil King will make his return. Black Panther 3 has been rumored for the MCU, and Eyes of Wakanda will develop the Black Panther’s history in animation, but Huerta’s future as Namor is uncertain.
While there have been several divisive and disappointing installments in the MCU’s recent years, James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was celebrated. The Phase 5 project ended with the original team disbanding, establishing a new line-up, and teasing smaller stories for the veteran members. While this could lead to a number of spinoffs, there’s been no confirmation of these stories continuing in the MCU’s future, but given the popularity of the team, it’s likely they will.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 only confirmed the return of one team member: the Legendary Star-Lord. Chris Pratt hasn’t revealed when he’ll be returning to the MCU as Peter Quill’s Star-Lord, but now that he’s based on Earth, it’s possible he could cross paths with some of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. This could see Star-Lord become an Avenger in Phase 6, or even connect with mutant heroes in Phase 7 and beyond.
One of the most exciting new developments in the MCU has been the evolution of the Young Avengers team. Marvel Studios introduced several new young heroes during the Multiverse Saga, including the likes of Kamala Khan’s Ms. Marvel, Kate Bishop’s Hawkeye, Cassie Lang’s Stature and Billy and Tommy Maximoff, hinting at the formation of the Young Avengers. With the members of the Young Avengers all being under or just above 20-years-old, it’s possible they could lead the MCU after the end of the Multiverse Saga.
2023’s The Marvels marked the first time the Young Avengers had been teased in the MCU. Kamala Khan, inspired by her experiences with Carol Danvers and Monica Rambeau, approached Kate Bishop with the prospect of bringing together young heroes. This confirmed the first two members of the Young Avengers, and teased Cassie Lang’s involvement, so hopefully the team will form before the Multiverse Saga concludes.