‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ Post-Credits Scenes Suggest Even More Sequels That Marvel Has Yet to Announce https://t.co/IdCbD7pHM9
— Variety (@Variety) May 6, 2023
Over the past 21 months, Marvel has used its trademark post-credits scenes to tease as many as six — or more! — upcoming movies. They are:
• A sequel — or sequels! — to “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” that involves the titular hero (Simu Liu), the extraterrestrial origins of his titular rings and/or the remaking of the titular outlaw cabal the Ten Rings by Shang-Chi’s sister Xialing (Meng’er Zhang).
• A sequel to “Eternals” that involves Starfox (Harry Styles) aiding Makkari (Lauren Ridloff), Druig (Barry Keoghan) and Thena (Angelina Jolie) to rescue their compatriots from judgement by the Celestial Arishem.
• A sequel to “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” that involves Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) partnering with the sorcerer Clea (Charlize Theron) to repair an incursion within the Dark Dimension.
• A sequel to “Thor: Love and Thunder” that involves Zeus (Russell Crowe) dispatching his son Hercules (Brett Goldstein) to kill Thor (Chris Hemsworth).
• A sequel to “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” that involves Shuri (Letitia Wright) and Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) contending with the revelation that the late T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) had a son and rightful heir to the kingdom of Wakanda.
• And now, a sequel — or sequels! — to “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” that involves the newly reassembled titular Guardians and/or the exploits of Star-Lord after returning to his family on Earth.
None of these prospective feature films have been officially confirmed by Marvel Studios, nor have there been any solid reports of forward creative momentum for any of them. Nonetheless, Marvel has never been a studio to make an idle promise. Why go to all the trouble of secretly hiring Styles, Theron and Goldstein for only a 90-second cameo? For that matter, why foreshadow the mystery of Shang-Chi’s rings, or the potential of T’Challa’s noble lineage, if you’re never going to pay it off? Why end “Guardians Vol. 3” with the tag line “the Legendary Star-Lord will return” if, you know, he won’t?
