Many rumors are coming from all corners of the internet, one of a live action Spider-Verse, with most of the internet from what I can see hating the idea, but I'm here to say my thoughts on why it could be truly special for Hollands third outing. And give us something we haven't seen before.
Ever since the rumors of a Spider-Verse being included in the third film of the MCU Spider-Man series fan reception has been mixed. There are many fans who are very weary of the idea, or even just sad because it seems like it would take focus away from the story we seemed to be getting for the third film. A film about Spider-Man being on the run in a city that now knows his secret identity with his main villain being Kraven the Hunter.
Do I want that film as well? Absolutely. While I'm not personally a big fan of Peters Identity being outed to the world as a permanent change, as that takes away an important element of the character and something that helps him stand out from his MCU alums it is something that would be an interesting and different direction for a single movie. But I did a lot of thinking about the subject of the Spider-Verse, how it could even fit into this sort of story, and honestly I think adding in the Spider Verse element to this story could make it one of the most unique and powerful stories we could tell for not only Spider-Man but any superhero. First though, let's get into some other reasons as to why this could be a great idea.
1. Redeeming The Weaker Elements
We do know that Jaime Fox is in the film with there being very heavy rumors of Andrew Garfield as well, with the two of them really having gotten the shortest end of the shortest sticks in the Spider-Man franchise. Since these films have released both actors have more than proven themselves and Andrew in particular is not as despised as he once was when he played the Web Slinger. Starring in projects such as Hacksaw Ridge or even 99 Homes which more than proved his acting abilities.
While both actors have gone on to be very successful in other works their time in the Spider-Man franchise is still a bit of a stain on their careers, at least according to the internet, with both Foxx and Garfield returning this new film could be an oppurtunity to show how good at their respective roles they can be, all be it in a reduced capacity compared to an Amazing Spider-Man 3.
Andrew and Jaime are two actors who have truly great potential in their roles, Kevin Feige himself even thought as much within those leaked Sony emails, however due to Sonys meddling we never got to see them in a script that truly shined, this film could finally be that film as we could see Foxx's interactions with other villains such as Alfred Molinas Doc Ock or even see Andrew have some better one liners than his previous adventures when he's interacting with the other two Spider-Men. This of course does lead to another idea that could work but i'll get into that at a later point. On the subject of Doc Ock though that does bring me to my next point.
2. Fan Service: The Good Kind
This is a talking point I'm going to try to be very careful with cause I do understand that fan service being a factor in this story/movie is a negative to a lot of people. But Fan service is like a good sauce on a burger, with just the right amount you enhance it, but too much and you ruin a perfectly good meal. The fan service in this film could be used in the same way, as an enhancement. Cause honestly no matter how bad the film may be, part of me will still enjoy seeing all of these characters again and seeing them interact with the newest iteration.
Personally I don't feel the amount of fan service in this film will be at the breaking point, Marvel is still in charge of this film overall and they have handled fan service very well in the past. Sure, Endgame had a lot of it, but it all felt earned up to that point. Previous attempts at their fan service has been minimal and just fun little easter eggs to include. Tobey and Andrew being in this film would of course be bigger than just an easter eggs, but their inclusion can be used to enhance the story, more as supporting characters in Toms story than as all 3 of them being equally important main characters. With the possiblity of an actual full fledged 3 protagionist led Spider-Verse movie later on down the line.
Of course those arn't the only kind of easter eggs that could be included within a film like this, references and other actors returning would also be welcome, although that one is more cause it is easier to overflow on the fan service when it is used on references or other returning characters that are not as important to the story. While characters like Doc Ock, Electro or any other villains appearing in a fight scene may be cool, having cameos from Emma Stone, Kirsten Dunst or even Spider-Men that arn't tobey or andrew in this film in particular may be going a bit too far, but again we will have to see how they are used, cause if they are used correctly it can lead into my next point.
3. Continuing The Stories
This is another point that I know will be controversial, but this is something I had thought of as a similar reasoning as to why I'm honestly a fan of this and DCs new multiverse strategy. Having these previously uncconected worlds now being revisited through their connections to the current franchise can allow these franchises to continue without disrupting the current continuity. Could this be an absolute disaster? Absolutely, but any story could, this opens up both the Raimi Verse and the TASM franchise to continue their stories and tell new interesting stories.
We may use the MCU Spider-Man 3 to explore an interesting new story with Toms Spider-Man, but after that film we could continue into a Spider-Man 4 and an Amazing Spider-Man 3 to explore how the existence of a multi verse also affects those respective Spider-Men. Now I hear you asking, why tell both of those movies? We already got it affecting Spider-Man in one movie, why do we need three?
The great oppurtunities we can get from these films is that sure it was the same event for all three Spider-Men but they are three very different people, so it would affect them all differently. Andrew has always seen the fun side of being Spider-Man, sure there has been darker times, but he always seems to have a blast when he is swinging around and being Spider-Man, especially in the Amazing Spider-Man 2. A third installment could use that element of his character to explore his excitement and hapiness that not only is he not the only superhero, he's not even the only Spider-Man. Using that to move onto the next chapter of his life whatever that may be. Hell, you could even use it to adapt something like the clone saga, have that peters experience with other Spider-Men inform how he treats and interacts with Ben Reily.
Tobeys Spider-Man would of course react very differently to this sort of discovery. While Andrew normally saw the fun side of being Spider-Man Tobey very rarely if ever moved passed the responsibility and pathos that came with being Spider-Man. Very little fun is ever involved within it, so the pressure of living up to being one of many Spider-Men may play a toll on Tobey, make him fall more into that responsibility or even reject it. It may play similar to Spider-Man 2 in some ways, but instead of considering to quit due to the struggles of being Spider-Man it could he considers quitting due to the now added pressure of living up to his other Spider people across the multi verse. Can he ever truly live a normal life knowing he is one of many Spider-Men out there?
That right there, that is the potential of just a few minutes worth of thinking could do for new stories for those respective characters. Do we run the risk of oversaturation? Sure, we also run the risk of confusing some audience members but I also love the idea of now having the possibility of having a Spider-Man for everyone and having them come when creators feel there is a story to tell in that world leaves the chance for great stories to tell. But now we get to the biggest reason I feel this could be great, the biggest reason why I feel this could work as Toms 3rd film specifcially.
4. The MCU Peters Arc
I realize most of the elements I've mentioned so far has been related to the two previous Spider-Men and not the main character of the film, that is mostly because I wanted to save his inclusion for last, as I feel that what plays with him, the character arc he could go through in this kind of story would be the most important element, and the one that would allow this film to be something truly special.
The Peter Parker of the MCU has gone through some tough times, he's gone through the death of his mentor and even the trauma of technically dying and skipping 5 years. These are things that would be difficult to deal with for anybody let alone a teenager, however this Spider-Man has not experienced the same level of tradegy and loss as his predeccessors. Losing a mentor is hard, but the other peters have lost best friends and loves of their lives.
I bring this up because this new film would be an oppurtunity to to finally allow this Spider-Man to truly experience the parker luck. But what does this have to do with the Spider-Verse you may ask? There is one thing in common with all of the previous Spider-Men, their own understanding of the responsibility of being Spider-Man. But with a multiverse story we can use that to have Tom learn that same lesson but also twist it in a unique way.
With Toms Peter being on the run, constantly, always looking over his shoulder always worried about what's coming or who is coming, that could finally be the straw the breaks the camels back for him, sure he may have taken a break in far from home, but this could his final stand, finally time he quit being Spider-Man, the pain, the hardship he can't take it. Until the other Spider-Men help him learn that one big lesson and help him continue.
"There are millions and billions of worlds out there, they are different in many ways, but the one constant of those worlds is you. No matter what world is out there there will always be a Spider-Man. You are the Spider-Man here, because you are the only one here worthy enough to be that shining light throughout the Spider Verse."
Now of course a hollywood screenwriter could write that better than I could, but that would his lesson, Peter learns to continue to be Spider-Man not because just because he has a responsibility here, but to the entire multiverse, that he is Spider-Man not just because it's his responsibility to do so, but also that he gained these powers because he is truly special. It is an arc that may seem similar in a lot of ways to his arc in Far from home, learning to be his own man, but it's still something that would be something we hadn't seen in any previous Spider-Man film,
Into the Spider-Verse had an arc for Miles about learning how to be different from his counterparts, but this one could use the fact that he is Spider-Man and that no matter where you go there will always be a Spider-Man, that he is one of the few special people who can be in that suit. The idea came to me from this Kevin Feige quote when it was announced that Sony and Marvel had reached a new Agreement.
"Spider-Man is a powerful icon and hero whose story crosses all ages and audiences around the globe. He also happens to be the only hero with the superpower to cross cinematic universes"
Now of course my idea is not what Feige meant by this comment, he was referring to Toms Spider-Man being involved in the MCU as well as Sonys upcoming cinematic universe, but that quote, that idea can be used to tell a side of Peter we haven't seen. Sure the idea doesn't work perfectly, as Spider-Man clearly doesn't exist in the Ben Affleck Daredevil or the Fox Xmen Movies. But they could still work with the idea to make it work, some worlds may have Iron man, or Hulk, or the fantastic four, but they all have Spider-Man.
Those are the points I feel are the main factors for why I am completely into the idea of this next film having Spider Verse elements, of course I don't expect everyone to agree. But at least I hope it made you think about the possibilities, do you have any ideas? Thoughts? Reasons why I'm wrong? List them down below.
Thanks for reading and I hope you have a wonderful day.