After 22 movies over 10 years, audiences are conditioned to wait around after every Marvel Cinematic Universe movie for the post-credit scene. In fact, I even wait around sometimes after non-Marvel films. Maybe I'm the only one that saw the Bohemian Rhapsody post-credit scene teasing Rocketman in the Classic Rock Cinematic Universe.
So, anyway, there I was in the cinema after Avengers: Endgame, which is three hours long, desperately needing to pee. Dear reader, I waited through the pain. I waited through the two billion special effects people who worked on Avengers: Endgame. I waited through the music, and the production assistants, and the production assistants' assistants. I waited through the Big Thanks to Georgia.
And after three extra hours the credits for Avengers: Endgame ended.
"Come on Fantastic Four!" Someone in the theatre shouted, hoping for a tease of what fans predict might be the next phase of the MCU. I was hoping for a scene of Chris Hemsworth doing some shirtless sit-ups.
And then the house lights came up. The screen went black.
I nearly released my dying bladder right then and there at the shock and anger (mostly anger!) that there was no post-credit scene after Avengers: Endgame.
Now, this will be disappointing for fans of the franchise for a great many number of reasons. But it makes sense for Disney. They're at a crossroads in their mom-and-pop business operation. They've just acquired the family business known as 20th Century Fox, which means they should have the rights to other famous superheroes (like X-Men, Deadpool and, yes, the Fantastic Four). This will fundamentally change the way they make movies. None of these changes have been announced yet and are likely only in very early talks.
But also, Avengers: Endgame and the upcoming Spider-Man: Homecoming are the conclusion to this phase of the MCU. Since the early days of Iron Man, these post-credit scenes were used to tease the next instalment of this Avengers series or the next movie. It seems like the lack of a post-credit scene here really marks the end of a chapter. Although that's not enough to console my aching bladder (I did make it to the bathroom in time, by the way).
Matt Miller is a Brooklyn-based culture/lifestyle writer and music critic whose work has appeared in Esquire, Forbes, The Denver Post, and documentaries.
