SPOILERS: 8 Ways SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING Sets Up The Future Of The Marvel Cinematic Universe
Spider-Man: Homecoming mostly keeps the focus on Peter Parker, but the reboot teases both his future and a variety of other big names from the MCU and comic books. Here are eight of the biggest set-ups...
Spider-Man: Homecoming is now in theaters and it's fair to say that Peter Parker's Marvel Cinematic Universe debut is a triumph as it seamlessly brings him into this world and makes it feel like he's been part of it since day one. The partnership between Marvel and Sony doesn't look set to end anytime soon either and that means both studios took full advantage of this movie to set up what comes next.
Throughout the course of the reboot, we get hints not only about the Homecoming sequel but also the MCU in general. It even appears as if Sony are dropping hints about those rumoured spinoff movies!
So, what you'll find here is an in-depth look at the eight main ways Spider-Man: Homecoming lays the groundwork for the future of both Peter Parker and the rest of the characters who inhabit this world. It goes without saying that major spoilers follow from here, but you've all seen it by now, right?
8. Avengers Tower, No More
When Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures came to the agreement which allowed the wall-crawler to enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe, part of the deal was that the latter studio would be allowed to use characters from that shared world in Spider-Man: Homecoming and beyond. However, just because they were contractually obliged to have the likes of Iron Man and Happy Hogan show up here doesn't mean Marvel didn't take advantage of being able to further their own plans!
We learn in the reboot that Avengers Tower has been sold and that Earth's Mightiest Heroes are now operating solely out of the base we first paid a visit to at the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron. It's no Avengers Mansion and is definitely an interesting change, but who bought Avengers Tower? I'm going to play my money on Norman Osborn, a.k.a. the Green Goblin!
7. The Scorpion
In what initially appears to be a throwaway cameo, we meet Mac Gargan during the Staten Island Ferry sequence. He's there to buy some advanced weaponry from Adrian Toomes' goons and ends up being hit by a car and plummeting into the water as Spidey battles The Vulture. While it initially appears as if he's died, Gargan (who sports a scorpion tattoo on his neck) reappears during the mid-credits scene looking like he's been through multiple surgeries and still needs more besides.
Toomes refuses to tell him who Spider-Man really is despite Gargan indicating that he has friends on the outside keen to help him take the hero down. This seems like a sure fire sign that the Scorpion will be the big bad in the sequel but it could just as easily be something Sony forced Marvel to include in order to set him up as the villain in their upcoming Black Cat and Silver Sable movie.
6. Iron Spider
At the end of the movie, Tony Stark offers to introduce Spider-Man to the world (in a scene similar to the one which saw the hero unmask during the Civil War comic book) but he refuses and decides to remain a Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man. However, before that, Iron Man reveals another new suit for the hero which is classic Spidey in design but also pretty much a full on Iron Spider suit.
While it isn't gold and red and doesn't feature any extra arms, the costume looks like a significant upgrade and seems to be far more armoured than the suit Spidey is currently wearing. Whether or not he'll end up wearing this in Avengers: Infinity War or the sequel remains to be seen, but it wouldn't be surprising for it to make a return somewhere down the line now we know it's in Tony's possession. However, it seems a little too advanced for the youngster in all honesty!
5. Tony Stark's New Status Quo
One of the biggest surprises in Spider-Man: Homecoming comes when Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts makes a surprise return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (especially after reports that she's moved on from these movies). With nothing left to announce to the press after Spidey decides to head back to Queens, her, Tony, and Happy are forced to come up with a new idea and that appears to be a marriage proposal!
The reboot doesn't make it overly clear, but it definitely seems like these two may be about to tie the knot, something which will obviously change the Armoured Avenger's status quo in a big way moving forward. The time Tony has spent with Peter also seems to have altered his outlook, so perhaps now he'll finally understand why Captain America is so protective of his former sidekick Bucky, a.k.a. The Winter Soldier.
4. The Vulture's Return
Marvel movies have a habit of killing off their villains, an infuriating decision when so many of these characters have potential beyond just the one appearance (Ronan the Accuser, Ultron, and Malekith are just a few of the most obvious examples). However, Spider-Man: Homecoming bucks the trend by allowing The Vulture to live and leaving the door open for Adrian Toomes to quite possibly make his return some day.
The fact he refuses to reveal Spider-Man's secret identity is either a sign that he's made his peace with Peter Parker after he saves him or that he intends to use the information against him in some other way. Either way, this makes a possible formation of the Sinister Six a lot easier as you have to believe that's an idea Sony hasn't actually given up on after so very nearly launching the spinoff a few years back. We definitely haven't seen the last of The Vulture!
3. Captain America: War Criminal
Captain America only appears three times in Spider-Man: Homecoming; the first two are in videos played in Peter Parker's high school and the third comes in a humorous after-credits scene aimed solely at the audience. However, in one of the reboot's funniest moments, Peter's gym teacher refers to Cap as a "war criminal," something which gives us a very good idea of how Steve Rogers is now perceived in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The Sokovia Accords are also referenced during a class Peter and Ned are in, though the fact that the wall-crawler hasn't signed them is never mentioned (perhaps he has, but it's never made clear either way). Beyond that, we don't really get any sort of teases for Avengers: Infinity War, but it will now be very interesting seeing how Spidey is incorporated into that movie and how he interacts with the "war criminal" Captain America!
2. MJ = Mary Jane Watson?
In one of the most baffling moments in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Michelle (Zendaya) reveals in her final scene that her friends call her as "MJ." That's obviously the nickname of Mary Jane Watson, a character who Michelle has literally nothing in common with! Why Marvel has decided to seemingly create an entirely new love interest with the redhead's moniker is impossible to say, but it's a scene which will make you cringe.
Had she been called Mary throughout, this new take might have been easier to swallow; as it is, it's more likely to just annoy you. Regardless of how you feel, though, the fact is that the reboot now leaves us wondering about the future of "MJ." She seems to have some sort of feelings for Peter based on the final look she gives him but will she be the franchise's new main love interest? Time will tell, but diehard fans are unlikely to be happy with this either way.
1. Spidey's Secret
May learned Peter's secret in both the regular and Ultimate Marvel Universe but this is a very different take on the character so it remains to be seen how she reacts. This is a game changer for the big screen version of the hero anyway and should radically alter how he goes about being Spider-Man when he returns in the 2019 sequel. It will probably have an impact on Avengers: Infinity War too but with her not expected to appear there, we could be waiting a while for this cliffhanger to be touched on.
What do you guys think of the ways Spider-Man: Homecoming sets up the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section.
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