Biggest Plot Threads Left Unanswered In The Infinity Saga

May 5, 2024

The MCU began in 2008 with the first Iron Man movie, and it has been adding new characters and stories to the series ever since. The first indication that this superhero franchise would exist in a shared universe came in the post credits scene during Iron Man, when Nick Fury shows up to tell Tony Stark about The Avengers Initiative. The end goal for this team of superheroes was then revealed at the end of Avengers Assemble, when Thanos was shown to be a key figure in this universe. His main goal was assembling the infinity stones and using them for his own villainous ways.

The first three phases of the MCU focused on this main plot and defeating Thanos, in a set of movies called The Infinity Saga. Other stories were told during this time, and the franchise has done a great job of tying up some of those loose ends. However, there are still some lingering questions that are yet to be resolved from this era.

The Multiverse has opened up countless possibilities for the future of the MCU. Here are all the ways it has played a part in the franchise so far.

6 Bruce & Natasha

Will Their Romance Ever Be Mentioned Again?

Hulk and Black Widow in Avengers Age of Ultron

First introduced in Avengers: Age Of Ultron

The idea of linking two of the main Avengers, Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff, romantically was first brought up in Avengers: Age of Ultron. This awkward romance left the pair willing to flee the team and start a new life together. Sadly, the events at the end of the movie saw Hulk leaving Earth behind in a quinjet, so the two could not be together. This romance was referenced again when Hulk gets a message from Natasha in Thor: Ragnarok, which forces him to revert into Banner, and again when the two reunite in Avengers: Infinity War. However, that small reunion was played more for laughs.

That is the last time the pair got a nod in the franchise, which seems odd given how much of the second Avengers movie is dedicated to their romance. Now that Natasha is dead, it is highly unlikely that this plot point will ever resurface in the MCU.

5 Asgard’s Destruction

Who Is Monitoring The Nine Realms?

First introduced in Thor: Ragnarok

In the first Thor movie, Asgard is set up to be an important part of the nine realms. As the home of the demi-god warriors known as Asgardians, Odin and his people are charged with maintaining order over the rest of the nine realms. This is shown in Thor: The Dark World, as the rest of the realms are all at war with each other after Loki’s actions in the first film. However, Asgard is completely destroyed in Thor: Ragnorok.

Thor: Love and Thunder is packed with memorable and iconic moments. These are some quotes that stand out the most in the MCU movie.

Though Thor successfully relocates the surviving Asgardians to Earth and appoints Valkerie as the new king, little has been revealed about what is happening in the other nine realms. New Asgard seems to be more preoccupied with the events occurring on Earth, so have the other realms fallen into chaos again due to their absence?

4 Cross Bones

Who Hired The Mercenary In Civil War?

First introduced in Captain America: Civil War

The events that kick-off Captain America: Civil War are highly exciting. These scenes depict Captain America leading his new team of Avengers as they try to stop the former Shield agent turned mercenary, Cross Bones, from stealing an unnamed biological weapon. The team are successful, and the plot quickly shifts to the aftermath of this initial conflict.

However, the plan executed by Cross Bones is deemed important enough for The Avengers to intervene. So, what was he trying to steal? This question has gone unanswered since the event occurred, though it could come up again in Captain America: Brave New World.

3 Red Skull

Where Has The Former Hydra Leader Gone?

Red Skull and Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War

First introduced in Avengers: Endgame

The question Red Skull’s whereabouts first started when he disappeared at the end of Captain America: The First Avenger as he tried to use the Tesseract/space stone. This question was finally answered in Avengers: Infinity War when he is revealed to be tasked with guarding the soul stone on the planet Vormir.

Red Skull’s return was a brilliant stroke of genius from the writers, but now, it seems the former head of Hydra is AWOL once again. His duty is served by the end of the Infinity Saga when the soul stone is used and brought back by Cap, and so it seems he is free to roam the cosmos once again. Will he appear as a villain again in the future? Only time will tell.

2 Arms Race

What Happened To The Company’s Trying To Replicate Tony’s Suits?

Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer demonstrating his arsenal of weapons on Iron Man 2

First introduced in Iron Man 2

One of the biggest issues facing Tony Stark as Iron Man first reared its head in Iron Man 2. After successfully privatizing world peace with his technology, Tony Stark is asked to forfeit his suits, as the US government is worried about his tech being replicated by the enemy. Some footage is even shown of other companies trying to replicate the Iron Man armor, and the main plot of the movie shows how one man is able to do this with ease, becoming a villain.

Heroes Who Hate Iron-Man: Thor (left), Iron-Man (middle), Spider-Man (right)

These Marvel heroes have a bone or two to pick with Tony Stark.

This court case took place over ten years ago in the franchise, and it seems that the rest of the world just stopped trying to recreate their own Iron Man tech. Tony Stark even died in that time, without anyone else even being shown with their own armor tech. Hopefully, the upcoming Armor Wars movie touches on this pressing issue once again.

1 Scorpion

A Classic Spider-Man Is Yet To Get The Revenge He Promised

First introduced in Spider-Man: Homecoming

Spider-Man has one of the biggest and best rogues galleries in comics. As such, it makes sense when some characters with the same name as these known villains appear in small roles in Spider-Man movies. That’s exactly what happens when Mac Gargan shows up in Spider-Man: Homecoming as a low-level arms dealer. In the comics, Gargan is a man stuck inside a scorpion costume who has been ordered to hunt down Spider-Man. Like always, many fans thought his appearance in the movie was nothing more than a fun Easter egg.

However, Mac Gargan shows up in the movie’s post credit scene to ask Adrian Toomes for details about the hero. Gargan has an obvious scorpion tattoo on his neck, and seems to want revenge. Sadly, that revenge is yet to surface, and Spider-Man in the MCU hasn’t faced this clear set-up for a villain at all in any sequels. There is still time, though.