As Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures continue trying to figure out Spider-Man 4, a new rumour has surfaced which may shed some light on their future plans for Peter Parker...and Miles Morales.
According to scooper Daniel Richtman, the plan is for Miles Morales to make his live-action debut in Spider-Man 4. We don't have any additional details beyond that but, as hoped, it appears that the character will call the MCU home instead of Sony's Marvel Universe.
Tom Holland has shared an interest in bringing Miles to the big screen for several years now and we'd guess the plan is for these two to team up before the younger web-slinger becomes Peter's permanent replacement. Whether Marvel Studios will follow the comics by killing Spidey remains to be seen, though we'd like to think he'd get a happy ending after Spider-Man: No Way Home.
"It was myself, Amy, [Marvel Studios president] Kevin Feige, [executive producer] Rachel [O’Connor], sometimes other executives from Marvel will sit in," Holland said last June of plans for Spider-Man 4. "It’s a collaborative process. The first few meetings were about, ‘Why would we do this again?’ And I think we found the reason why. I’m really, really happy with where we’re at in terms of the creative."
That sounds promising, but he'd go on to admit, "I’m also a little apprehensive about it. There’s a bit of a stigma about the fourth one in all franchises."
"I feel like we hit a home run with our first franchise and there’s a part of me that wants to walk away with my head held high and pass the baton to the next lucky kid that gets to bring this character to life."
While Holland's wall-crawler is expected to take on a lead role in Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and Avengers: Secret Wars, it appears this next trilogy will see Peter pass the Spider-Man mantle to Miles. That may seem premature, but if we bid farewell to Holland in Spider-Man 6, for example, then he'll have a good - and lengthy - run as the hero.
Regardless of what the plan is, Marvel Studios being involved with Miles' live-action debut is a definite relief. While the animated Spider-Verse movies have been spectacular, Peter's successor getting the Morbius or Madame Web treatment doesn't bear thinking about.
We've previously heard rumblings that Miles might live in the same apartment building as Peter; the character was also referenced in a Spider-Man: Homecoming deleted scene featuring Donald Glover's Aaron Davis.
Spider-Man 4 doesn't have a confirmed release date. While we wait for news on that, head to the comments section below to let us know your thoughts on this rumour!