The Multiverse Hype is Getting Old

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has made watching movie credits a thrilling game. Fans eagerly wait for those post-credit scenes that often hint at exciting new adventures. But lately, these teasers have lost their spark. Take the recent "Captain America: Brave New World" movie, for instance. The post-credit scene features a villain named The Leader, played by Tim Blake Nelson. This character, who was first seen in "The Incredible Hulk, " is now in a high-security prison called The Raft. The new Captain America, Sam Wilson, visits him. The Leader then drops a big hint about the multiverse. He talks about how there are many worlds out there, not just one. This is something fans have already seen in shows like "Loki" and movies like "Spider-Man: No Way Home. " It's like he's saying, "Hey, you know that multiverse stuff? Yeah, it's coming. " The Leader's words are similar to what Nick Fury said in the first Marvel post-credit scene. Fury told Tony Stark that he was part of a bigger universe. But back then, it was exciting because it hinted at the Avengers team-up. Now, it feels like we're just being told what we already know. The Leader's dialogue doesn't add anything new or exciting. It's like he's just repeating what we've already seen. Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie, doesn't even react to this big reveal. It's as if he wasn't given any lines to say. This post-credit scene feels forced, like it's just there to check off a box. It's similar to the ending of "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, " where Lex Luthor hints at a big bad without saying who it is. The Leader's talk about the multiverse has been a big part of the MCU since 2021's "Shang-Chi: The Legend of the Ten Rings. " But now, it feels like we've seen it all before. Movies like "Quantumania" and "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" have already explored this idea. Just mentioning more multiverse stuff isn't enough to keep fans interested. The Leader's hint is a sign that the MCU is still trying to find its direction. It's like they're saying, "Trust us, we'll figure it out. " But so far, the multiverse has mostly been about cameos and slight changes to familiar characters. It hasn't really explored the big story possibilities of alternate timelines. Upcoming movies like "Fantastic Four: First Steps" and "Avengers: Doomsday" will probably use the multiverse too. But unless they do something new and exciting, it's going to be hard to keep fans engaged. Even the hero of "Brave New World" seems bored by the idea of more multiverse movies. So, is it any surprise that fans are losing interest?