Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is swinging into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Civil War… but what happens after that?
Marvel did the impossible: they got Spider-Man into the MCU. After crafting a deal with Sony to have appearances in their on screen universe, work got underway on his appearances in his own films as well as those of other characters. We know his first appearance will be in Captain America: Civil War… but what about his solo film? What will it be about… and more importantly how will it portray the character?
What’s the title of the film?
Spider-Man, though that could change.
Who’s writing and directing?
Jon Watts, who directed the indie darling Cop Car that premiered at Sundance 2014, is helming the picture. John Francis Daley (Vacation) and Jonathan M. Goldstein (Horrible Bosses) are working on the screenplay.
What will the film be about?
We don’t know very much, but we do know that it will take place during Peter’s high school days and Aunt May will feature into the story. It also seems they’re going to starting with an already established Spider-Man rather than rehashing his origin story for the third time.
Who’s in it?
Tom Holland (The Impossible, In The Heart of the Sea) is playing Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei (The Big Short, The Wrestler) will be Aunt May.
Do we know who the villain is?
No, but word on the street is they’ve already chosen. Thus far, Kraven the Hunter, Vulture, and Scorpion have all been rumored.
How will it tie in with the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
We don’t think it’ll do anything major like introducing an infinity stone. If anything, this Spidey film will be more like Ant-Man, which was really all about the character. However, in an interview Marvel producer Kevin Feige explained that Peter’s greatest contribution to the MCU was his character and point of view:
“I think we can do great things with Spider-Man… I think Spider-Man can serve great purpose in our universe and that’s where he belongs. That was what was unique about him in the comics was not that he was the only superhero in the world; it’s that he was a totally different kind of superhero when compared against all the other ones in the Marvel universe at the time.”
When will production begin?
Unknown, but it would have to be next year (probably summer) if they expect to release by their opening in 2017.
Anything else we should know?
The movie is very much going to try to take a more laid back, almost indie approach to its storytelling. In fact, the constant inspiration the filmmakers have cited was the work of John Hughes. According to Tom Holland,
“It’s not The Dark Knight. One of the special things about what we’re going to try and create is that you’re going to see the biggest independent film ever. It’s not going to be an epic thing; it’s going to be a film surrounded by these incredible things, but that follows this boy and his life. Peter Parker is a favorite of many because everyone can relate to him, and we’re going to try to make everyone relate to our Peter Parker. And John Hughes is a perfect example of what we’re going to try and do.”
John Hughs, of course created some of the most classic teen centric films of the 1980s including Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Not a bad place to start.
It’s also rumored that Ultimate Spider-Man Miles Morales might make an appearance, but take that with a pretty big grain of salt. If he does, it’ll probably be a cameo at best.
When will we know more?
The script isn’t even done yet and casting isn’t underway, so it’s going to be a few months.
When will the film be out?
July 28th, 2017.
