Black Widow’s End-Credits Scene Sets Up MCU Phase 4 Storylines

The recently released MCU Phase 4 Black Widow movie ended on an exciting note. Black Widow End Credits scene set the stage for many upcoming MCU phase 4 storylines. Originally, Black Widow was supposed to release to hit the big screens in May 2020. Still, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the production was halted multiple times, and thus, the release date got changed many times. After being postponed for months, Black Widow’s first stand-alone film premiered in theatres and on Disney plus on 9 July 2021.

Black Widow End Credits Scene Reveals Crucial Details About MCU Phase 4

The Black Widow movie is laid down before the events of Avengers: Infinity war and gives fans some new knowledge about Black Widow’s whereabouts during the events of Captain America: Civil War. At the same time Thaddeus Ross was tracking the Avengers. 

Before the release of the Black Widow movie, we never knew much about Natasha Romanoff’s past before she joined S.H.I.E.L.D. With the film, Marvel Studios successfully gave fans a detailed look into her past and the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Like any other MCU film, Black Widow also included an End Credits scene that not only sets the stage for many upcoming critical MCU phase 4 plots but also includes a stunning appearance from a shadowy and notable new figure in the MCU.

The movie features the Black Widow Endgame memorial

In the Black Widow End Credits scene, Natasha Romanoff finally gets the proper memorial that Avengers: Endgame never gave her. In Avengers Endgame, Natasha sacrificed herself for the soul stone making her death a vitally important part of the movie but never got the appreciation or tribute it was entitled to from the rest of The Avengers team. 

Few of the team members were seen mourning and grieving her death, but it only lasted for a few minutes before promising that they will avenge her death. At the end of the movie, only Tony Stark received a good burial and memorial while Natasha’s death was forgotten.

In Black Widow, Yelena Belova visits Natasha’s grave to show that she cared enough to offer her a proper resting place. However, we don’t know whether her body is there or it is on Vormir. The scene features Yelena honoring her dead sister by whistling for her the same way they used to do when she was alive. 

The scene turns out to be very emotional when Yelena lays her forehead on her sister’s grave, showing how deeply affected she is by the death of Natasha and how much she cared for her. It was far more than what Natasha ever received from her Avengers teammates.

Will Yelena take Black Widows’ legacy forward?

While the movie’s main focus was to give fans a glimpse into Natasha’s back story and her connection to the dreadful and mysterious red room, the film also helped set up the stage for Yelena’s origin story and her future as the next potential Black Widow. 

It would make a lot of sense if Yelena Belova claims the title of Black Widow, considering how close she was to Natasha, and she successfully proved her worth when it comes to fighting, learning and outsmarting villains. She is highly proficient and trained, given that she was the one to assassinate Dreykov instead of Natasha. It also shows that MCU was already looking forward to Yelena taking Natasha’s place. 

It’s also worth pointing out that Yelena is the second soul to carry the name of Black Widow after Natasha. She only started using the name after the demise of Natasha Romanoff. She may do the exact in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Black Widow movie sets up the stage for Dark Avengers.

In Marvel Comics, the Dark Avengers are a gang of supervillains posing as superheroes. The Dark Avengers came into existence at a time when the government had dispersed the original Avengers. However, the MCU’s version of the Dark Avengers may have a different backstory with different team members. Still, the belief of their existence will most probably be synonymous.

 The potential entrance of the Dark Avengers in MCU phase 4 was first implied in the Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Enlisting John Walker as the new Captain America and Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, as a potential substitute for the S.H.I.E.L.D. Director Nick Fury called up John Walker for a new role within her secret organization, maybe the outset for the Dark Avengers.

Valentina made a brief appearance in the Black Widow End Credits scene to hire Yelena for a hit job. It seemed like the Marvel Cinematic Universe is slowly building a new team of not-your-typical superheroes to take over The Avengers role. Valentina may introduce the team to the world when she finally has recruited all the members she requires for her plan.

 After Endgame, Avengers are not what they once was. Valentina may use this opportunity to form a new group to replace the original Avengers. It seems like she already got two members onboard – John Walker, Yelena Belova and she may also recruit Agatha Harkness as an alternate for Scarlet Witch. 

Currently, Valentina’s real intentions are somewhat cluttered. Still, after the release of the Black Widow movie, it’s clear that MCU has big plans for Yelena Belova. She may be a part of the Dark Avengers, making things incredibly fascinating for MCU’s future.

How is Black Widow connected to Disney+’s Hawkeye?

Before the release of the Black Widow movie, it was confirmed that Florence Pugh would be reprising her role as Yelena below in Hawkeye. However, it was unknown how she connected to the Disney plus series at the time of the announcement. Thanks to the Black Widow End-Credits scene, it is now confirmed that Yelena will appear in the story as an adversary to Clint Barton. Valentina appears in the post-credit scene to give Yelena her new target, Hawkeye, aka Clint Barton. It shows where Yelena is headed next and plays a crucial role in the upcoming Disney plus series Hawkeye.

From what we have gathered so far, Yelena is not a big fan of any superheroes so far so she may hunt Hawkeye to kill him on Valentina’s order. She may blame Clint for what happened to Natasha as she sacrificed herself for him. 

Considering she met her sister for a short amount of time and the events of Avengers: Endgame took the chance from Yelena to get closer to her sister, she may want revenge. Yelena does not know the entire story behind Natasha’s death, and she may switch sides when she finds out the truth. Regardless of how things take a turn, Black Widow has successfully managed to increase the hype for Hawkeye and that Yelena will be a crucial player in MCU’s future.