How the Conclusion of the Sony Spider-Man Universe Opens Up a 7-Year-Old Villain Tease for the MCU

As the Sony Spider-Man Universe reaches its conclusion, a long-awaited plot thread from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) may finally become relevant. Following the release of Kraven the Hunter, it has been suggested that the Sony Spider-Man Universe is effectively finished. This shift appears to be driven both by the financial underperformance of various titles in the franchise and their mixed critical reception, often falling short compared to MCU films.

With the fate of the Spider-Man legacy hanging in the balance, interest is now shifting towards upcoming projects. Whether it’s the final chapter of the Spider-Verse trilogy or the anticipated Spider-Man 4 in the MCU, the future looks bright for the iconic character. Particularly, a narrative tease from seven years ago within the MCU may find its path to resolution in light of Sony’s recent developments.

One Character Remains in Limbo: Where Is Michael Keaton’s Vulture?

The Mystery Surrounding Vulture Post-Morbius

Adrian Toomes in the Vulture costume in Spider-Man Homecoming

Before diving into the specific tease, it’s essential to identify the character in question: Michael Keaton’s Vulture. First introduced in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Keaton portrayed Adrian Toomes, whose illegal operations were disrupted by Tony Stark. This led to a confrontation with Spider-Man, resulting in Toomes’ arrest. Given that his character was not killed off, many anticipated a return in future films, particularly in Spider-Man 4.

However, confusion arose with the 2022 film Morbius. In an unexpected post-credits scene, Vulture appeared, seemingly transported to another universe. He expressed bewilderment over his situation, hinting that Spider-Man was somehow involved despite the absence of Spider-Man’s character in the Sony Spider-Man Universe, except for a brief appearance as an infant in Madame Web. Since the release of Morbius, Vulture has been notably missing from both the MCU and the Sony Universe, leading fans to wonder about his current status following the reported end of the latter franchise.

Resolution for Spider-Man: Homecoming’s Post-Credit Scene?

Revisiting a Seven-Year-Old Tease

Mac Gargan in Spider-Man Homecoming next to Scorpion from Marvel comics — Custom Image by Milica Djordjevic

With uncertainty surrounding Keaton’s role in the Morbius universe, the MCU potentially holds the key to resolving his last appearance. In Spider-Man: Homecoming, during the post-credits scene, Toomes was confronted in prison by Mac Gargan, who was eager to uncover Spider-Man’s true identity. This scenario was never addressed in subsequent films—Spider-Man: Far From Home or Spider-Man: No Way Home—likely due to the limitations of plot integration and Sony’s desire to utilize Vulture in its own narrative.

The upcoming Spider-Man trilogy could provide ample opportunities to explore a plotline featuring Vulture and Scorpion as they team up for revenge against Peter Parker. With Sony’s franchise effectively concluded, the MCU could now bring Vulture back into the fold, finally addressing the lingering questions posed in Spider-Man: Homecoming. While Spider-Man 4 may delve into a multiverse narrative, Spider-Man 5 might just be the fitting environment to reintroduce Vulture.

Will Morbius’ Post-Credit Scene Ever Find Clarification?

The key question remains: will Vulture’s unexpected Morbius detour ever be explained? While there are feasible options for Marvel Studios to address this, there’s also the possibility of simply overlooking the narrative altogether. Morbius was widely regarded as a commercial and critical failure, grossing only $167 million at the global box office, which may lead many to prefer that the MCU not feel obligated to adhere to its continuity.

Alternatively, the MCU might leverage the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home to justify Vulture’s journey into the Morbius story. With characters intersecting across universes as seen with Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock/Venom, it’s plausible that Vulture’s situation could be interpreted as reverse movement between the two universes. Such a narrative could seamlessly sidestep inconsistencies, all while setting the stage for future storylines involving Keaton’s Vulture and the long-pending post-credit scene from Spider-Man: Homecoming.

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