Marvel Cinematic Universe producer Kevin Feige has explained the studio’s plans for Spider-Man within the franchise.
Speaking to The Toronto Sun recently to promote Homecoming, Feige has made it abundantly clear that Peter Parker will be very much the centre-piece of the next phase of films – set to begin after the sequel to Avengers: Infinity War hits theatres in 2019. It will be the tentatively titled Spider-Man: Homecoming 2 that opens Phase 4, and it will encompass the consequences of the events of the as-yet untitled Avengers 4.
“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.
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.”
The details shared by Feige here really emphasize the fact that Disney and Marvel know exactly how to play to the strengths of the franchise, in order to create momentum in the ongoing narrative. By the time Phase 4 begins, the MCU will comprise of 22 films, kick-started by Iron Man 11 years prior. By integrating Spider-Man into the franchise with both appearances in ensemble movies (Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War), along with creating his own solo titles (Spider-Man-Homecoming), it means that this iconic, younger figure will bring together a new generation of heroes – presumably including Captain Marvel, Ant-Man and The Wasp.
It’s this method of integration that serves the series best. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is not yet at the point where every character is able to have their own solo movie (much to the frustration of fans of both Hulk and Black Widow) – but each notable character is still afforded a relatively complex arc across the franchise, regardless of whether they have the chance to lead their own outing or not. This allows writers and filmmakers to create stories and chapters that are far richer and more satisfying than they might otherwise be able to deliver.
To add Spider-Man to this concoction, specifically in those terms, is to ensure the longevity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe because, by the time the web-slinger is “ushering us into” Phase 4, he’ll be an integral part of the franchise – even though he didn’t arrive until Phase 3. For fans of the character, and of comic book movies in general, this means that the future is already very bright indeed.
