It's almost here. In just a few short days Spider-Man: Homecoming will arrive in theaters, giving the web slinger his first solo adventure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Homecoming has the distinction of crafting the first plausibly young version of Peter Parker, as well as giving the MCU a more expanded and inclusive cast than ever before. Spidey is a high schooler trying to navigate the world of super heroics, while also enduring the hardships that most teenagers feel. And now Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has revealed the MCU's plans for the character: a five-film arc that will change Peter forever.
Kevin Feige has been doing plenty of press ahead of Spider-Man: Homecoming's release. During a recent conversation with the Toronto Sun, he revealed how Spider-Man's five film appearance will function for Peter's narrative, saying:
We are looking at a five-movie storyline --- Civil War, Homecoming, Avengers: Infinity War, untitled Avengers, Homecoming 2 --- or whatever we end up calling it --- as an amazing five-story journey for Peter Parker.
This actually makes a great deal of sense, and seems like an awesome way to build the character of Spider-Man from the ground up, while also not having to give him the origin story that we all know by heart. Instead, we'll follow his journey as a superhero, beginning from the moment that Tony Stark plucked him out of obscurity during Captain America: Civil War.
Smart money says that the events of Spider-Man: Homecoming, as well as the apocalyptic sized threat of Thanos, will rob Peter Parker from the carefree attitude we've been seeing in Homecoming's marketing material. Peter loves his newfound superpowers, and seems to enjoy making a difference in the world. But being a hero comes with great responsibility and a fair amount of heartbreak. Smart money says he learns the true gravity of his position in the next few movies.
Kevin Feige's above comment will no doubt be hopeful and exciting for fans of the character. Because while the previous two franchises were a bit divisive (that dance sequence in Spider-Man 3, though), Marvel and Sony seem to be really paying attention to details this time around. Peter Parker's journey from teenage vigilante to full on superhero will be specific and curated, which should help Spider-Man become one of the lead characters of the MCU in Phase Four. Homecoming's sequel is the first and only film announced for the next phase of films, so its safe to say that Spidey will go from side character to leading player in the following few years.
Kevin Feige actually addressed Spider-Man's importance to the next phase of films, saying:
In the way that the events of Civil War directly inform the opening of Homecoming and his state of mind as he goes back to high school, so too will the events of the next two Avengers movies as he continues with high school. This original 22-movie arc ends with the untitled Avengers in May of 2019 and then two months later it will be Peter and Spider-Man (on July 5, 2019) that usher us into the aftermath and how things proceed from there.
Spider-Man: Homecoming will swing into theaters on July 7th, followed by his eventual appearance in Avengers: Infinity War on May 4, 2018. In the meantime, check out our 2017 release list and plan your next trip to the movies.
