Warning: minor spoilers for Spider-Man: Homecoming are ahead!
Spider-Man: Homecoming is finally in theaters, and there are a lot of cool elements from the Web-Slinger's mythology adapted for the big screen, from numerous members of his rogues gallery appearing to Peter Parker's life as a high school student being explored. Granted, you would expect most superhero movies to draw closely on the source material, but for Spider-Man, this is especially important. However, one element that's barely touched on in Spider-Man's first MCU movie is The Daily Bugle, Marvel's most famous newspaper. While the paper itself is seen a few times, Peter's personal connection to the publication isn't explored at all. While that's fine given that Spider-Man: Homecoming already had a lot of ground to cover, 2019's Spider-Man: Homecoming 2 needs to fix this by having Peter not only work at the paper, but also interact with its editor-in-chief, J. Jonah Jameson, as both are crucial to Peter's growth as a superhero and a person.
The Daily Bugle was extremely important to Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy because taking pictures for the newspaper was one of Peter's main sources of income and (more importantly) J.K. Simmons' J. Jonah Jameson was that series' primary source of comedic relief. In the Amazing Spider-Man series, though, the Daily Bugle was reduced to just being seen on newsstands, and while Peter was working for the paper by the time The Amazing Spider-Man 2 started, Jameson was never seen; his obnoxious personality was only captured in email form. In other words, it's been a decade since The Daily Bugle was properly used in a cinematic setting. Tom Holland's Peter has enough keeping him busy between school and his Spider-Man duties, but it's important that Spider-Man: Homecoming 2 put the teenager in the Bugle offices so he can widen his horizons further.
Regarding the newspaper itself, it may not be as easy as it was in the 1960s for a high schooler (and a fictional one at that) to get a freelance job taking photographs, but through an internship, Peter Parker could lend some help to either get some money or earn early college credit. Upon hearing that the Bugle is desperate for photos of Spider-Man, he could then establish himself as the guy who can snap the best pictures of Spider-Man, just like he did in the comics. Let's also not forget that by hanging out at a newspaper, Peter will have a better chance hearing if there are any particularly big crimes erupting.
Of course, the Daily Bugle isn't all enjoyable for Spider-Man; if we do see Peter associated with the Bugle, he'll also need to struggle with the paper's vendetta against his costumed alter-ego. Remember, secret identities aren't really a thing in the MCU. Besides Daredevil and possibly Ant-Man, Spider-Man is the only superhero who hasn't revealed to the public who he is under the mask. So it would still make sense for the Bugle to launch a crusade against the Webbed Wonder, even though he saved the day in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Hell, they could take that moment where Spider-Man webbed up the guy who was breaking into his own car and use that as an excuse to plaster on the front page that he should be behind bars. We all know that Spider-Man is a great superhero, but part of his appeal is that he has to push back against distrust and fear from segments of the population, much of which is instigated by the Bugle.
Finally, there's J. Jonah Jameson himself. Without him, there's barely any point in even visiting The Daily Bugle offices. Not only is he the one who is determined to see Spider-Man unmasked and out him as a "fraud," but his blustery personality makes him one of Marvel's more entertaining supporting characters. Then there's the fact that while Iron Man will remain one of Peter Parker's closest superhero allies, he won't appear in Spider-Man: Homecoming 2, so the teenager could use a new father-like figure in his life. One shouldn't expect hugs and sunshine from the mustachioed editor, but in his own special way, Jameson has been a key figure in Peter's life and has taught him a few valuable lessons. We'd be lying if we said it won't be hard for someone to match or even top J.K. Simmons' performance from the first Spider-Man series, but it's worth the risk. The Amazing Spider-Man series missed its opportunity to put a unique spin on Jameson, so the Spider-Man: Homecoming series shouldn't make that same mistake.
Whether you've already seen Spider-Man: Homecoming or are heading to the theater this weekend to take it in, be sure to read our review of the movie. Spider-Man: Homecoming 2 will be released on July 5, 2019.
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