7 Ways That Spider-Man: Homecoming Sets Up Future Movies

At long last, Spider-Man is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And, though many of the finer points of the studio's deal with Sony have yet to come to light, it does seem like he's here to stay. Not only because Peter Parker is such a major presence in the Marvel universe, but because of the hefty work done in Spider-Man: Homecoming to set up future developments. As well as telling a complete, thrilling story, Homecoming does a great line in sowing the seeds for things to be picked up further down the road. Learning from previous hamfisted efforts like The Amazing Spider-Man 2, this movie makes sure to put the current film first, but that doesn't stop it from setting up the sequels when it's warranted. Not at all. So, in what ways does Spider-Man: Homecoming pave the way for future MCU movies? From character developments to costume reveals, here are the major set-ups we noticed. As always, if we missed one, feel free to let us know in the comments section. Oh, and it should go without saying, but spoilers will follow. Honorary Mention: Department Of Damage Control This one doesn't set up a future movie - but it could kickstart a new TV show, instead. In the opening scene, we finally find out who clears up all those citywide messes that the Avengers are always causing in the movies' third acts. Adrian Toomes led a salvage team but, after the Chitauri invasion of New York, Tony Stark created the Department of Damage Control - a government agency to handle the situation and retrieve any alien or dangerous technology leftover from the battle. This is a revamp of the Damage Control from the comics - complete with Tyne Daly playing Anne-Marie Hoag as the head of the operation - but its inclusion here is even more important than that, as it could serve as the backdoor pilot for an upcoming TV show. Back in 2015, it was announced that Marvel were working on a live-action Damage Control series, which was to be the company's first foray into the half-hour comedy format. The following year, however, the project stalled for unknown reasons. Perhaps because DC were working on their own superhero sitcom - the ultimately ill-fated Powerless. It's possible that the project was only on hold because Damage Control's origin story was set to feature in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Maybe now that the movie is out - not to mention DC's competition is out of the way, as well - Damage Control will find its way back onto Marvel's schedule? 7) Revamped Avengers Facility After Tony Stark moved the Avengers' main HQ away from Avengers Tower to a new facility upstate in Age of Ultron, we weren't sure what would become of the skyscraper. In Spider-Man: Homecoming, it's revealed that Stark has sold the Tower and the facility has been made the permanent and only base for Earth's Mightiest Heroes. It's also undergone a spiffy new redesign. This suggests that we've seen the last of the iconic MCU location, first unveiled back in The Avengers. From now on, the new Avengers facility - which was featured prominently in Captain America: Civil War - will only get more screen time. Though considering Avengers: Infinity War will likely take the heroes into space, maybe it won't. Likewise, Spider-Man: Homecoming also reveals some juicy details about Tony Stark's love life. After Civil War told us that Tony and Pepper were taking a break, fans thought that was going to be it for the MCU's original power couple, due to Gwyneth Paltrow's contract coming to an end. Thankfully, the actress made a fun cameo here, confirming that Mr. Stark and Ms. Potts are still a thing. And what's more, they might have got engaged to boot! It's unknown if Paltrow will return again for Avengers: Infinity War, but the fact that Tony once again has Pepper in his life could affect the decisions he makes going forward, at the very least. 6) Aunt May Knows At the end of Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter Parker returns to his home in Queens, feeling good about turning down Tony's offer to join the Avengers (more on that in a moment) and happy with being a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. And then he stupidly decides to take his mask off with his bedroom door open, allowing Aunt May to find out his secret identity. Yup, Peter's Aunt May now knows that he's Spider-Man. Even though the previous versions of the franchise teased the idea that maybe May knew the truth but didn't let on, this is the first time we've clearly seen May find out that her nephew is a superhero. It's a pretty big change, then, but it really fits the already completely reworked character of May, as played by the younger Marisa Tomei. So, how could this develop in future movies? Well, this has happened before in the comics - specifically, in "The Conversation," an issue from 2002, which sees Peter and May talk it over. Fans would like it if this was brought to the screen, but it would require the next film to begin straight after this one...which we know it won't because Peter has to go off and fight Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War in the meantime. Even if we skip May's initial reaction, then, having both Ned and May to confide in could significantly change Peter's character in Homecoming 2, though he'll still have to keep his secret from the outside world. 5) Peter Has A Place On The Avengers Team Throughout Homecoming, Peter is striving to impress Tony Stark and prove to him that he's not just a kid and he deserves a place on the Avengers team. Despite some bumps along the way, Spidey eventually gets his wish when Tony welcomes him as an official member of Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Though clearly tempted, Peter ultimately decides that the Avengers life isn't for him and that his job is to stick up for and protect the average guy. This is a clever development, as it addresses the fears that some fans had that the MCU Spidey would lose his individual spirit if he was mentored by Iron Man and quickly joined the Avengers. Just like in the comics, though, it looks like Peter is going to be a lone hero for the most part. Although we know he'll still ally himself with the Avengers when the right situation arises. Even though he doesn't accept Tony's offer, then, this is a very important step in Peter's development as a hero. Presumably, he'll be accepted more by his super-peers going forward and, more significantly, he'll have more faith in himself. Peter was often clumsy and hesitant in Homecoming, but he's bound to feel more in control of his abilities next time around. 4) Iron Spider Suit It's not just an invitation to join the Avengers that Tony Stark offers Peter at the end of the movie, though. That offer comes with a special free gift: an upgraded, all-new Spider-Man suit. It's an intriguing redesign, with more black patches in place of the blue and a much larger logo than the one Peter currently sports. It's the golden outlining of this logo that will tip fans off to the suit's comic book forebear. Yes, it's likely that this is the MCU's version of the Iron Spider armor. In the comics, when Peter sided with Tony Stark in the Civil War event he was given this Iron Man-alike new suit, complete with red and gold colour scheme and mechanical spider-leg attachments. It also came with a bunch of other high-tech upgrades, of the sort that MCU Peter already has in his current outfit. Chekov's Gun tells us that you can't introduce something important early on in a story and then do nothing with it later on, and that's bound to apply here. Marvel aren't going to go to the trouble of designing a new Spidey suit and then never have him wear it. So, when will Peter change his mind and accept Stark's upgraded suit? Our bet is that he'll decide he needs some tougher armour when he raises his game from flying crooks to alien tyrants in Infinity War. 3) MJ Is Waiting In The Wings Just as we'd suspected all along - see Khan in Star Trek Into Darkness and Blofeld in Spectre for more - Zendaya's character of Michelle is the MCU's version of Mary Jane Watson. Towards the end of the movie, the anti-social loner girl reveals that she likes to be called "MJ." Obviously, this is a nod to the nickname of Peter Parker's long-running girlfriend. But that's not all this scene reveals. As Peter gets a phone call from Happy Hogan, Michelle jokes about not caring what he's up to - but as he leaves, she gives him a lingering look. It's clear, then, that Michelle has deeper feelings for Peter than what she's letting on. With Peter's love interest in this movie, Liz Allan, having moved to Oregon by the end of Homecoming, the sequel is free to explore the burgeoning relationship between Peter and MJ. It doesn't look like he thinks of her in a romantic sense yet, but that's bound to be addressed next time around. Such a massively different take on Mary Jane is sure to annoy many hardcore fans (and already has, thanks to those earlier rumours), but you have to admit it does fit in with Homecoming's fresh take on the Spider-Man mythos. 2) The Sinister Six Are Coming As we outlined before, the mid-credits scene of Spider-Man: Homecoming might just be the impetus for the introduction of something that's been long in the making. The scene sees Adrian Toomes in jail, where he's approached by old buddy Mac Gargan (the Scorpion in the comics). Gargan tells him he has "boys on the outside who would love to slit throat." We might be reading into this too much, but the idea of Scorpion teaming up with some fellow criminal buddies to take on Spidey brings to mind only one thing: the Sinister Six. Usually formed by Doctor Octopus, the Six are a continually changing roster of Peter Parker's enemies who team up to defeat him. The group was heavily teased in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, ahead of a planned spinoff film, before the unceremonious cancellation of that franchise. With Sony still involved with the filmmaking process, though, it makes sense that they would push for Marvel to include the Sinister Six. Director Jon Watts has said that the villain of the sequel is still up in the air, but this could just be a way of saying that they don't know which six foes will turn up. With Vulture, Shocker and Scorpion (not to mention the Tinkerer and the Prowler, too) appearing in this first film, it's not as if too many new villains would need to be introduced for this to work. 1) Miles Morales Exists Even better than the tease of future supervillains is the hint that there's another Spider-Man out there in the MCU besides Peter Parker. When Spidey tries (and totally fails) to interrogate Aaron Davis (as played by Donald Glover), he ends up convincing the guy to tell him where Vulture's gang are. Aaron admits that he doesn't want Toomes' dangerous tech in the neighborhood as he has a nephew who lives locally. Cue Marvel fans' jaws hitting the floor. You see, in the comics, Aaron Davis is the Prowler, a cat burglar who happens to be the uncle of Miles Morales, Peter Parker's successor as Spider-Man in the Ultimate universe. Though his near-namedrop could simply have been an easter egg for the fans, and not a promise that Miles will actually appear, the implications of it are massive nonetheless. We now know that Miles exists in the MCU, which leaves the door open for his introduction at some point in the future. Seeing as Tom Holland is contracted for six movies, Peter Parker likely won't be going anywhere for a while, but that doesn't mean Miles is off the cards. Miles and Peter could be around the same age in this universe, too, which could lead to a kind of buddy cop Spider-Man movie, where the two team up. Hey, we can always dream, right?