Despite stumbling, the MCU's Phase 5 sets up a more exciting Phase 6. Here's how

Ironheart's finale marks the conclusion of Phase 5 of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe). The fifth phase kicked off in February 2023, with the third movie in the Ant-Man franchise, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Now, approximately two and a half years later, fan opinion on this phase was negative, except for these projects: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Loki Season 2, Daredevil: Born Again, and Thunderbolts*/The New Avengers.

Consisting of six theatrically released feature films and nine Disney+ Marvel shows, Phase 5 has been dubbed a "failure" if the internet is to be believed. However, except for Quantumania, The Marvels, and Thunderbolts*/The New Avengers, most of Phase 5 theatrical releases managed to break even. Furthermore, Thunderbolts*/The New Avengers has a positive reception, meaning it probably managed to win over MCU fans.

As of the Disney+ Marvel shows, they also seem to be doing fine. Projects like Daredevil: Born Again, Agatha All Along, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, and Ironheart had fans buzzing throughout their runtime. Of these, the Ironheart finale inadvertently set up the supernatural side of this cinematic universe with one specific cameo: Mephisto.

Disclaimer: This article solely reflects the author's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.

Objectively analyzing MCU Phase 5:

As mentioned before, Phase 5 of the MCU consists of nine Disney+ Marvel shows and six movies. Of these on one Phase 5 project has been panned universally: Secret Invasion. The six-episode miniseries led by Samuel Jackson's Nick Fury damaged the brand and the entire phase so badly that it soured the viewers on the MCU despite better projects releasing after it.

Furthermore, the Ironheart finale, apart from earning fan appreciation and love, also sneakily set up the supernatural side of this cinematic Universe by introducing Mephisto, who is the king of hell, i.e., the satan of the Marvel Universe in the comics.

Mephisto's appearances push the door open for the Marvel Cinematic Universe's supernatural side:

Played by Sacha Baron Cohen, Mephisto's appearance in the finale of Ironheart may have set up Ghost Rider or Marvel's Midnight Suns project. In the comics, Johnny Blaze, a daredevil motorcyclist, signs a contract with Mephisto to save his father's life from cancer. However, it was all for naught as his father died in an accident while performing a stunt.

Much like in the Ironheart finale, Mephisto tells Johnny that he held up his end of the bargain, curing his father's cancer, not saving him from death. After Mephisto takes his soul, he turns Johnny into the Ghost Rider to punish evildoers. However, Johnny Blaze hates Mephisto for what happened to his father and later joins other Marvel characters like Doctor Strange and Blade to form the team Midnight Suns to fight the devil.

Thus, we may get to see more of Mephisto and his related Marvel characters, sometime after Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, the MCU is probably rebooted.