Michael Keaton has become an infamous face in the realm of superhero movies. Most often associated with his stint as Batman, Keaton has become a formidable opponent for any hero or villain. In 2017, Keaton debuted in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Vulture inSpider-Man: Homecoming.
Keaton’s Vulture has gone largely unseen in the MCU following the defeat he suffered at the hands of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. However, that does not mean his existence has not loomed large over Holland’s Spider-Man. WithSpider-Man: No Way Homeright around the corner, it’s possible to see Keaton reprise his role in the film’s post-credits ahead of his appearance inMorbius.
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Keaton recently sat down with Jimmy Kimmel to discuss his return to the DC Universe as Batman. In doing so, Keaton revealed that he wasabout to shoot “Vulture stuff"as well. In the realm of the MCU, “Vulture stuff” could refer to plenty of things ranging from a scene forNo Way HomeorMorbius, which Keaton is already known to be a part of. Keaton is not the only villain the MCU has kept alive and typically, it means that they will come to play a huge part in the superhero universe down the road. After appearing inThor, Loki served as the main villain inThe Avengers, and went on to become one ofthe most popular characterswithin the Marvel Universe. The God of Mischief even earned his own series on Disney Plus, which has already been renewed for a second season.
Joining him is Bucky Barnes, Captain America’s best friend and eventual foe inThe Winter Soldier. Like Loki, Bucky went on to have a series on Disney Plus alongside Sam Wilson, where he ditched his HYDRA persona and reclaimed his identity as a hero.Captain America: Civil War’sBaron Zemo is another worthy mention, as he tore the Avengers apart. The superhero faction struggled to get back on the same page after his antics, and despite not appearing in another film,Zemo was a pivotal characterinThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Even though he has been recaptured, his victorious smile inThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier’sfinale means that the MCU probably hasn’t seen the last of him.
Since Keaton played a huge role in Holland’s Spider-Man story, it’s possible that he could appear in the post-credits forNo Way Home. With the film set to bring in a lot of new villains, including a potential variation of the Sinister Six, it is possible that Vulture will make a triumphant return. In the comics, Vulture is one of the founding members of the Sinister Six, which also included Doc Ock, Electro, Mysterio, Sandman, and Kraven the Hunter. Doc Ock, Electro, and Sandman have already been confirmed forNo Way Home, andMysterio was the villain inFar From Home. In fact, he is the reason Doctor Strange attempts to cast a spell inNo Way Hometo help everyone forget that Peter Parker is Spider-Man. This only leaves Kraven unaccounted for, though Aaron Taylor-Johnson will play him in an upcoming film.
If Vulture doesn’t make an appearance in response to the villainry inNo Way Home, it’s possible that he will appear in lieu of the upcoming release ofMorbiusin January. In the trailer previously released forMorbius, Keaton was seen very briefly,calling after Michael Morbius (Jared Leto). In the trailer, Vulture shouts, “Hey, Dr. Mike. You and I should keep in touch.” How Morbius comes into contact with Vulture could be due to various factors. With Morbius battling his heroic and villainous emotions, he could seek Vulture’s alliance in his vampire state. The other possibility is that once Morbius lands in jail for the killings his alter ego is responsible for, leading the doctor’s path to cross with Vulture. His release from prison may warrant Vulture to call out to him with his somewhat threatening suggestion.
A post-credits scene that may utilize Keaton to help establishMorbiuswould work in a manner much likethe end-credits fromEternals. After attempting to tell Sersi that his family history is a lot more complicated than he previously thought, Dane Whitman is seen in the second post-credits scene. He approaches a case holding the Ebony Blade, which is a huge part of the Black Knight, a role filled by Dane in the comics. Before Dane manages to get his hands on the blade, he is stopped by a voice. The speaker doesn’t appear on camera but many were quick to recognize the voice as Mahershala Ali’s. Ali waspreviously cast as the MCU’s Blade, taking the role previously fulfilled by Wesley Snipes in theBladetrilogy.
Such a minimal appearance (or lack of appearance and mere delivery of a line) can go a long way in the MCU to help connect some of its stories. It can also be beneficial to piece together the internal timeline of the superhero universe. Dane will surely play some role in Ali’sBlade, and it’s possible that there will be an official look at Ali asthe character in the post-creditsforMorbius. If Vulture should appear in this capacity in a post-credits scene forNo Way Home, he could potentially find himself opposite of Holland’s Spider-Man once again, or squaring off against a new Marvel hero.
