I'm a long time reader of CBM, but first time poster. I see a lot editorials flying around where people scope out their predictions for the Marvel and DC film universes and write up would-be plots for a lot of their films, but I feel like as much fun as those kinds of things are, they're mostly trying to do the studio exec's jobs for them. In true comic book fashion, what I'm talking about here is an alternate history, a "What If" scenario that will probably never happen (despite constant rumors), removing the weight of it really being a "prediction" and more of a wish list.
I would like to present to you an alternate future, a timeline that diverges from right now: let's pretend that tomorrow, Feige releases a statement. All of the Phase 3 announcements and Netflix shows and Age of Ultron footage was just to build up hype before this landmark moment: Marvel Studios has bought back the rights to ALL of their properties. Spidey, the X-Men, Fantastic Four, and all related properties are coming home, and we're utilizing them ASAP. The Garfield-led trainwreck that is The Amazing Spider-man series is over. The X-Men web of retcons has finally come untangled. Reed Richards no longer looks like Reed Richards' scummy car salesman cousin.
What would Marvel do? How would they reintegrate these characters into their expansive universe? The answer is probably in a way much more clever than I'm about to propose, but I'm going to do it anyway. I encourage you to think about this as you read, and consider how you would handle both the storytelling and brand management sides of this situation, and possibly understand why Marvel Studios doesn't feel the need to throw their Disney Money around to get these properties back.
We'll start with probably the most popular of the three properties, and in my opinion (despite my love of the X-Men and my hatred of the current movies) the one in need of the most help, Spider-man:
I, like many, can't stand The Amazing Spider-man. The understanding of the character is completely off base, the villains are weak, the story is way too convoluted, the romance scenes are so quirkward that even Michael Cera is saying "We get it, you're awkward, move on", and can we seriously talk about that weird "No means yes" kissing scene in the first movie after he gets back from fighting the lizard? Like, really, how am I the only one bothered by that? Ew.
Now, the easy solution would be to say "Okay, Peter Parker's tired, let's bring in Miles Morales." Great! He's a popular character in the comics right now, we can inject some more diversity into the MCU, and the Russos have already worked extensively with Donald Glover so we can bring him in to play Miles!
There is nothing wrong with this solution, but I'm not a fan of the easy way. I want to see Peter Parker done right, which is something that we haven't really seen on film (even though Raimi's movies were much closer, they still had problems with the character's portrayal). So we're going to nut up, hit the drawing board, and make a big, awesome Peter Parker Spider-man story. On Netflix.
That's right, no more Spidey solo movies. The public is tired of them. Even if we got great writers and actors and everything, it still wouldn't sell well because Spider-man has fallen out of public favor. So we're going to go smaller, while also simultaneously going bigger. Netflix's "Peter Parker: Spider-man" finds the webslinger very much in a similar place to where he was at the end of the TASM series. Before the Battle of New York, Gwen Stacy has died, killed in a battle with Norman Osborn. In a rage after her death, Peter beat Norman within an inch of his life, leaving the Green Goblin comatose. Realizing that he can't protect the people his life as Spider-man puts into danger and shocked at the fact that he almost took a life, Peter Parker has hung up the costume. He hasn't been Spider-man in a long time. In that time, the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we've seen it has taken place. Seeing The Avengers and SHIELD on TV, Peter is glad to see that heroes are keeping the world safe, but doesn't see himself as worthy of the responsibility of being Spider-man.
Now, let's be clear here: there will be NO origin story. No Uncle Ben flashbacks, no Spider-bite flashbacks. As far as we're concerned the inciting incident here is Gwen Stacy's death. We don't need to see Uncle Ben die or Peter get bitten by a spider because we already know that story. Bare minimum, maybe an echo in Peter's head of Uncle Ben saying "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility" to push him towards heroism once more. In Spider-man's absence, his old rivals have built a criminal underground empire, completely unchecked and beneath the notice of the Avengers. The Sinister Six run things in New York, afraid of nothing now that Spider-man is seemingly out of the picture, possibly dead. Aunt May, worried that Peter has been depressed ever since his girlfriend's death and thinking it's time he tried to move on, sets him up with Mary Jane, and she drags him out of his apartment to go see the sights. Through some incident (possibly MJ getting nabbed during a robbery while on a date with Peter?) Peter's heroic instinct is revived, and he realizes the deeper meaning to his Uncle Ben's iconic words. Just because he refuses to use his power, doesn't mean he can shirk his responsibility. The very fact that he possesses this great power automatically means he has a responsibility to use it, no matter what. His actions since Gwen's death aren't him protecting the people he cares about, they are him being a coward and hiding from the responsibility he has to the innocents of the world. The first episode ends with him resolutely stating "I am Spider-man."
The rest of the mini-series is a story about Peter rebuilding his skills and learning how to be Spider-man again. He starts a campaign against the Sinister Six, who at first don't believe Spider-man could have returned but soon realize that their criminal empire is in danger. The central plot of the series will involve Peter juggling battling the criminal underground of New York, holding down his job at the Bugle (he'd made a niche for himself as a photographer after the Spider-man well dried up, but now he has to deal with JJJ seeing Spider-man as a menace who abandoned the city when they needed him most), and reconciling his growing feelings for Mary Jane with his residual guilt after Gwen's death. By the end of the first season, the Sinister Six are behind bars, he has forgiven himself for what happened to Gwen, and he and MJ can finally build their relationship (possibly have the final confrontation with Doc Ock involve saving MJ by learning from his mistake that caused Gwen's death?) The final episode ends with Tony Stark (or Captain America depending on how things are by the end of Age of Ultron) meeting Spider-man on a rooftop and inviting him to join the Avengers. If Marvel wants to do a season 2, have a post-credits stinger of Norman Osborn waking from his coma.
Now we can have Spider-man appear in Avengers films. He can be called on in a time of need and enter the scene whenever necessary, helping to keep things under control at the street level alongside the likes of Hawkeye and Black Widow while the heavy hitters handle cosmic threats. Not only has Spider-man returned to the world, but he is now better than ever, and standing alongside the heroes of the Battle of New York. We continue the trend of no more Spider-man films. If more solo Spidey content is wanted, do a Season 2 where he battles Norman and Harry Osborn. Season 3 can finally do Venom right, Season 4 could redeem the Clone Saga by actually doing it well and allowing Kaine Parker into the picture. There are so many Spidey stories to tell, and I feel a television mini-series is the best way to tell them.
This is, obviously, a thought exercise and nothing else, but it's fun. I'm curious to hear what other people think. If Marvel got the rights back to Spider-man TOMORROW, what would you do with them? Sound off in the comments below, and don't forget to hit that thumb if you found this article interesting. Later, I'll be publishing similar ideas for the X-Men and the Fantastic Four.
Update: You can read Part II: X-Men,
here.