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The Future Of Spider-Man In Film

Ever since news broke last month that Spider-Man will be appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Internet has been abuzz with rumors and speculation as to how our favorite wall-crawler will appear in future films. Although nothing is set in stone as of yet, there is plenty of evidence circulating across the web that could indicate the cinematic direction of Spider-Man.

Within the past few days, word has rapidly spread that Drew Goddard will be in charge of writing and directing the new Spider-Man film, as well as future installments including a potential Sinister Six film.

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Now, the Internet loves to take a small bit of information and blow it out of proportion, so it’s very possible that Goddard has no business with Spider-Man. But at the same time, the rumors of Spider-Man joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe floated around for the better part of a year and eventually came true. Maybe Goddard will take up the reigns. And if he does, then I couldn’t be happier.

If you’re unfamiliar with the director, he’s responsible for many great (albeit some underrated) films and television shows. He co-wrote several episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel, and he actually won an award for his work on Lost. As for his work in the film world, he co-wrote and directed the brilliant satire Cabin in the Woods, and wrote the underrated sci-fi film Cloverfield.

But what does this all mean? Why do I think Goddard is a good fit for incorporating Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

First off, he has worked closely with Joss Whedon himself, who was responsible for bringing us Avengers Assemble, which is currently the most successful MCU film to date. Goddard has spent so much time with Whedon that it wouldn’t be unreasonable to think that he picked up some of his talent and abilities. Marvel Studios must have thought the same thing because they made Goddard a writer and executive producer of the Daredevil Netflix series that is due to come out this April. Overall, Goddard has the credentials, and I’d rather have him take control of the franchise than Marc Webb (although, I’d honestly take Sam Raimi over Webb as well).

Enough worshipping Drew Goddard. Let’s talk shop. What’s going to happen with Spider-Man? Many people are frustrated with yet another origin story. We know all about Spidey: his parents died when he was a kid, his uncle was shot, he fights Green Goblin, etc. But if the rumours are true, then we may get to skip the origin story this time around.

The same articles that are positioning Goddard as the director of the reboot are also indicating that Spider-Man will already be an established hero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That means we won’t have to go through the tedious set-up all over again. Instead, we may get small flashbacks that show Peter Parker’s transformation while the core of the film focuses on Spider-Man in the midst of his adventures.

The best way I can compare this is if you look at 2008’s The Incredible Hulk with Edward Norton. In the film, Bruce Banner is already the Hulk. We jump right into the story. There’s still some build-up (there HAS to be if you want proper character development), but it’s done extremely well. The Incredible Hulk isn’t the worst of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s films *cough* Thor *cough*, so if we can do what that film did but with Spider-Man, then it could pan out really well.

Speaking of which, it seems like Daredevil is following the same route. The previews indicate that Daredevil is a hero already, which means we’ll see his origin only via flashbacks. It’s possible that Marvel Studios is testing the waters with this formula. If Daredevil pans out, we could see more development with the Spider-Man reboot. What a coincidence that Goddard may be involved with both of these characters…

Furthermore, it’s important to discuss Spider-Man’s connection to the Avengers. Spider-Man doesn’t become an official team member until later on in the comics, and by then, they’re called the New Avengers. This team’s core heroes include Wolverine, Iron Fist, Luke Cage, Ms. Marvel, the Thing, Doctor Strange, and Spidey. With the exception of Wolverine and the Thing, all of these characters are going to be introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe within the next couple of years. Marvel Studios has stated that the Avengers roster will change up in future films, so maybe we’ll see a variation of the New Avengers after Captain America: Civil War.

Speaking of the Civil War arc, the big debate going around is whether Spider-Man will show up in the film or not. Civil War is easily one of the most substantial events of the Marvel universe, pitting the world’s greatest heroes against each other and forcing them to take sides with either Captain America or Iron Man. Fans initially complained about the film being announced because this was back when Spider-Man was still out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. According to them, Spidey is an integral part of the storyline and the film can’t happen without him.

This always annoyed me. I’ve read Civil War over and over and again. Spider-Man is not exactly crucial to the plot. He acts as a poster boy for the pro-registration side by revealing his secret identity. That’s about it. Yeah, it’s a huge part of the Marvel universe, but it’s not necessary. They could’ve easily found a way to work around it. Now that Spider-Man is in the picture, they can satisfy “fans'” desires and incorporate his reveal into the film. There’s one idea floating around that suggests Marvel keep Spider-Man’s casting choice a secret and then reveal it on screen when he takes off the mask. I think this is a really cool idea, but it would never work. It’s almost impossible to keep secrets in Hollywood nowadays.

Personally, I’d only like to see Spider-Man become a staple of the Marvel Cinematic Universe if they get him right this time. Despite what haters say, Tobey Maguire was an awesome Peter Parker and Spider-Man. He would have made an awesome addition to the MCU. Andrew Garfield‘s Spider-Man drove me crazy and I’m glad he’s out of the way. Now, it’s a coin-toss as to whether the actor playing Spidey will be decent or not. Obviously, the more awesome the character, the more involved I’d want him in the MCU.

I won’t lie and say that I’m not worried. Sony has made poor decisions with the beloved character in the past. Our only hope is that Marvel takes more control and works closely with Drew Goddard to give us the character we deserve.

Do you have any thoughts as to the future of Spider-Man? Who do you think should take the role? Let us know in the comments or send us a shout on Twitter!

About the author

Alex Reale

From a young age, Alex knew he was destined to be a writer. He also harbored a deep infatuation with superheroes and comics. Luckily, he was able to combine these two passions through his role with A Place to Hang Your Cape, where he works as Junior Sidekick and Social Media Hero.

When he’s not writing for AP2HYC or working full-time as a content manager for a small business website, Alex is diligently at work on other creative projects including a fantasy novel collection and an independent comic series.

You can find Alex's first book, Dodger's Doorway, on Amazon!