Avengers: Infinity War post-credits scene explained

*WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS FOR AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR*

It's the most familiar of traditions now - an almost primal impulse. When a Marvel film ends, you sit patiently through the scrolling credits, letting name after name wash over your eyeballs, in anticipation of an extra treat at the end: the post-credit sequence.

A tool for the studio to tease what's next on the slate, or even to sneak in an extra joke or two (Avengers' shawarma scene, a little more Jeff Goldblum for the end of Thor: Ragnarok).

That tradition certainly hasn't let up when it comes to Avengers: Infinity War, although be warned: though Marvel films are increasingly including two post-credits scenes at the end, one mid-credits and one at the very end, there's only one here - right at the very, very end of the credits.

It's certainly worth the wait, however, as the short sequence gives a major clue as to how Avengers 4 and the future of the MCU will play out. And one more warning: MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD.

After Thanos successfully eradicates half of all existence, achieving his grand plan to bring balance to the universe, we're painfully forced to bear witness to some of our favourite heroes simply disappearing from existence: Black Panther, Spider-Man, Star-Lord.

But that leaves many MCU favourites with fates entirely unknown and the post-credits sequence brings in two more simply to deal them the death blow. We open on New York City, presumably moments after Thanos finally gets his hands on all the Infinity Stones and unleashes destruction.

Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) are heard discussing the search for Tony Stark, as Fury adds he's been attempting to get into contact with Clint (Barton A.K.A. Hawkeye), before leaping out of their car as the world descends into chaos: cars crash into each other, helicopters fall out of the sky, as people start simply disappearing into thin air.

Maria is the first to go, as she looks at Nick with complete and utter disbelief. Before the same happens to Nick he manages to reach into his pocket and pull out a peculiar-looking pager; he disappears before he can utter "motherf**ker" and the pager falls to the ground.

As the camera glances over the pager, we see it: the red and blue insignia with a white star at its centre, the mark of one Captain Marvel.

A solo film for the character, played by Academy Award-winner Brie Larson, has already been announced with directing duo Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck at its helm.

We already know that Nick Fury is set to play a key role in Captain Marvel, as she'll be the first superhero he ever crosses paths with. Why she (presumably) left Earth and was never involved in the Avengers Initiative is likely yet to be explained, but it's clear that she may hold the key to reversing what Thanos has inflicted on the world.

And it could very well have something to do with the Quantum Realm, an alternate dimension where space and time are irrelevant. Since we're officially Time Stone-less, our heroes will have to find another way to bend reality and turn back time if they're hoping to bring everyone back in one piece.

The Quantum Realm first popped up in Ant-Man, where Dr. Hank Pym initially gained access to it and Janet van Dyne, the original Wasp, found herself lost within it. Ant-Man himself was also briefly lost in the dimension before altering his suit's mechanisms to escape.

The trailer for the next Marvel film on the slate, Ant-Man and the Wasp, appears to suggest that Janet will be rescued from the Quantum Realm by Ant-Man and her daughter Hope, the new Wasp.

Combine that with the fact Captain Marvel has been heavily hinted to involve a return to the Quantum Realm. Kevin Feige stated that Captain Marvel is the MCU's "most powerful hero by far", so if there's anyone who can successfully navigate the Quantum Realm, it's surely her - though perhaps with a little help from Ant-Man.

The release schedule also helps back this up a little: Ant-Man and the Wasp hits UK cinemas 6 July, Captain Marvel arrives 8 March 2019, and Avengers 4 is out 3 May 2019.

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